A self-report scale measuring perceived compassion, in its embodied and functional aspects, will be presented, including preliminary psychometric validation results. There has been some debate as to whether compassion can be measured through self-report. Neff’s Self-Compassion Scale, possibly the most widely used instrument, operationalizes compassion in terms of mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness. Others (e.g., …
Interpersonal violence is a significant threat to public health with serious ramifications to family and society. Mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR), originally designed for those dealing with chronic illnesses, is now being offered to individuals with histories of surviving interpersonal violence. Yet, to be optimally effective, MBSR should be modified to address the unique needs …
This paper investigates Zen master Eihei Dogen’s emphasis on the role of “nonthinking” (hishiryo) in shikantaza (“just sitting”) meditation by viewing nonthinking as a cognitive process existing in dynamic relation to thinking (shiryo) and not-thinking (fushiryo). Dogen’s ostensibly mysterious shift away from the Ch’an terminology of “no-thought” (munen) and “no-mind” (mushin) provides vital insight into …
This paper explores the role of the meditative mind in modernist literatureand theories of consciousness. Modernist authors, such as Virginia Woolf, Marcel Proust, and William Faulkner, are known for their fascination with subjective perception and self-conscious interiority, as well as representations of trauma and illness. This paper shows how the hitherto unexplored trajectory of the …
Recent research in the fields of neuroscience and emotional intelligence point to the importance of authenticity, self-awareness, and interpersonal awareness for effective leadership. However, development of these qualities in leaders has been elusive and difficult to achieve through conventional means. Contemplative practices such as meditation, reflective inquiry, mindful dialogue, and various embodiment disciplines offer specific …
Mindfulness in the West is often described as a bare attentional process, but it is unclear how such attention regulates emotional arousal to promote well-being. One hypothesis suggests that mindfulness involves “turning towards” experience: Through curiosity, openness, and acceptance, emotional experience is enhanced, and this attentional enhancement obviates the need for other conditioned responses. An …
The Varieties of Contemplative Experience: Context Matters Buddhist-derived meditation practices, particularly mindfulness meditation, are being applied to medical conditions, psychiatric disorders, schools, and businesses for stress reduction and the promotion of well-being. These secular applications are largely contextualized in a medical health model, without much attention to or knowledge of traditional Buddhist texts, which carefully …
Contemplative Science Goes to School: Improving the Context for Teaching and Learning in the Elementary School Years Through Contemplative Approaches The classroom has been long recognized as an important context for development, particularly during the elementary school years. Optimal learning environments are physically and emotionally safe and provide students with a sense that their thoughts …
Buddhism, Behaviorism, and the Brain: Towards a Better Understanding of the Mechanisms and Mitigation of Craving, Grasping, and Addiction The seemingly intractable behavioral cycles and suffering of addiction offer a vivid and painful illustration of the necessity and challenge of behavior change. Decades of tireless research on the nature of, and mechanisms underlying, addiction have …
