First-Year Writing Seminar (101-8-1)
Topic
Mindfulness and Buddhist Psychology
Instructors
Marcia F Grabowecky
847/467-3044
306 Cresap
Meeting Info
Swift Hall 231: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
Mindfulness is currently a popular topic and has been claimed to benefit mental and physical health and almost everything that we do. In this seminar we will examine the concept of mindfulness from both the popular culture perspective and from the perspective of the roots of mindfulness in Buddhist traditions. We will also explore Buddhist views can be considered as a psychological system, and investigate how these ideas related to scientific psychology. We will employ Buddhist techniques for investigating mental activity by incorporating a brief meditation period into class and homework activities. We will also examine written materials from both traditions, and these will form the primary basis for class discussion and written assignments.
Registration Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for Freshmen and Sophomores
Learning Objectives
Students will be expected to understand the essential principles of Mindfulness and Buddhism and how these form a psychological system. They will also be expected to investigate and understand how evidence from scientific psychology is consistent or inconsistent with Buddhist psychology.
Teaching Method
Two 80 minute discussion meetings weekly, writing assignments
Evaluation Method
Attendance - 5%
Class Participation - 5%
Papers - Draft and final versions of 3 papers, 15%, 20% and 25%
Writing assignments - Summaries of assigned readings, 10%
Students will document and reflect on their experience with the in class and homework meditation practices in 3 meditation logs which count 15% towards the class grade.
Class Materials (Required)
Thich Nhat Hanh (1996), The Miracle of Mindfulness: A Manual on Meditation. Beacon Press;
ISBN: 0807012327, 1996
Class Materials (Suggested)
Matthieu Ricard (2006), Happiness: A guide to developing life' s most important skill. Little, Brown ISBN 0316057835
Class Attributes
WCAS Writing Seminar