Year: 2004
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This thesis turns to Buddhist philosophy as a source of enrichment in educational thought and practice.It argues that a certain secular adaptation of Buddhist meditation in school curriculum would help students identify causes of stress, frustration, helplessness and insecurity, and develop ways to cope with and transform their "afflicted minds".The aim of this work is to help create a consciousness that cultivates compassion in students for a harmonious teachinglearning environment in schools as well.as the desire of becoming compassionate social beings.This study employs a narrative approach to argue that various physical and psychological life challenges bring mental impediments such as anger, jealousy, restlessness and helplessness through a strong "ego-self' in the mind.These challenges often lead to stress, depression and anxiety.By realizing the nature of mind and body relationships and changing internal factors through mental training, individuals can learn to resist anxiety, depression, intolerance and mental insecurity and face psycho-social problems with maturity and mindfulness.The study explores two forms of' meditation techniques, namely "mindfulness" (sati), and "Loving-Kindness" (Metta), which constitute the foundation of Buddhist mental training.These meditation techniques attempt to train the mind to understand the mental state of happiness, to identify and defuse sources of negative emotions and to cultivate emotional states like compassion (Karuna) in order to improve personal and societal well-being in students.The knowing pursuit of compassion in students is a central feature for realization of the creative potentials of our virtues such as love, sympathy, empathy, tolerance, patience and equanimity.There are many issues in modern schooling, such as diversity in students,, multiculturalism, bullying and violence, which require a compassionate approac,h and understanding.This study examines the potential contribution of Buddhist thought and practices in education for mindfulness. Analysis of MettaILoving-Kindness 1 2 2Chapter Five: Compassion (Karuna): From a moral perspective toward education .........
Source: Summit (Simon Fraser University)
Author: Dhammika Mirisse
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2185591786