Looking back over this blog since its conception in 2014, a last minute pre-Christmas blog seems to have become something of a tradition. Having said that, even by my own standards, the 23rd is a little late so I expect many of you will come to this in January! Since the symposium I have felt … Continue reading Contemplating the future…

The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others. hooks (1994: 298) When I first read Zajonc's ideas about an 'epistemology of love' in 2014 (Zajonc 2006), I decided … Continue reading What’s love got to do with it?

Hello everyone There are only 24 hours left to book for the Contemplative Pedagogy Symposium (bookings close at 5 pm on Friday 16th August). There are a couple of places left if you are interested. Please book and pay here. The last few hours have been very exciting as have confirmed part of the programme. … Continue reading Symposium programme taking shape

Many thanks to Annette Sweeney, Culinary Arts Lecturer at Technological University Dublin, for this article about contemplative pedagogy in a discipline that we've not discussed on this blog before. Enjoy! My question is - does contemplative pedagogy have a role in modern culinary education? In the increasingly busy professional kitchen environments, does it have a … Continue reading Yes Chef! Contemplative pedagogy, culinary education and professional culture

I had been reflecting for several days on how to bring this series of responses to the 'The Mindfulness Conspiracy' to a close when I randomly opened a booked of poetry on 'Singapore' by Mary Oliver. I will let you read it before I explain why I thought it relevant. SingaporeMary Oliver In Singapore, in … Continue reading Waking up to suffering and the possibility of change

A response to ‘The Mindfulness Conspiracy’ from Joey Weber at the University of Bolton Manchester Mindfulness should be taught through a social and critical lens, because there is no other authentic way of doing it. Ron’s article raised important questions of how mindfulness is manipulated in contemporary society. The underlying factor when considering whether mindfulness … Continue reading Mindfulness as a prosocial movement

A response to ‘The Mindfulness Conspiracy’ from Roberta Pughe Clinical Director at  The Center for Relationship, LLC. I have been teaching mindfulness and contemplative practice since 1996 integrating techniques from psychology, theology, shamanism and mindfulness.  Let me begin by stating first that mindfulness is designed to create awareness that actually mobilizes activism and offers a … Continue reading Nurturing change through mindfulness ‘one person at a time’

A response to ‘The Mindfulness Conspiracy’ from Dr Patricia Morgan at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. For me there are two central points I think Ron Purser makes in his article “The mindfulness conspiracy” recently published in the Guardian. Firstly, that stripping the practice of mindfulness from Buddhism means it has been removed … Continue reading ‘We are all implicated’: the need for deep critical reflection in the mindfulness movement

A response to ‘The Mindfulness Conspiracy’ from Dr Karen Blakely at the University of Wincester In 1992 Fukayama wrote about the end of history.  There was no more to say - the debate had been won by capitalism, hands down.  From the vantage point of post 2008, we may laugh at this hubris but when … Continue reading Mindfulness, personal integrity and overcoming self-interest

Some very rich and important discussion has been ignited within the mindfulness community by the publication of 'The Mindfulness Conspiracy' by Ronald Purser. Although we don't focus on mindfulness specifically on this blog, it is an important component of contemplative pedagogy and some of the same issues are pertinent. When considering how to respond to … Continue reading Responses to ‘The Mindfulness Conspiracy’: exploring critical and social mindfulness in education