Contemplative Practices in Higher Education: Powerful Methods to Transform Teaching and Learning

This book will serve as a sound starting point for someone interested in exploring applying contemplative practices to higher education. Its summary of the scientific research supporting benefits of mindfulness practices is sound and balanced -- not always the case in books on applied mindfulness. It is clearly written and provides a sufficient set of references to support further inquiry. The target education discussed is undergraduate. I'd like to find a book-length discussion of uses of contemplative practice in professional graduate education, which is where I teach. At the professional level, issues of stress, burnout, and mindfulness in communication with clients and work colleagues also have to be considered. But for what this book sets out to do, it's a fine source.

This books is a must read for anyone who wants to add mindfulness exercises into their courses. It is filled with research, practical experience, and usable clearly outlined exercises that can quickly enhance the students learning experiences and the subject matter retention. And the great side bonus, it can change your life and theirs and bring peace, compassion, contentment, and kindness to self and others along with it. I have been using mindfulness techniques in my college classes and with my corporate clients for many years now with great success and this book has given me additional information to raise what I'm doing already into the next level. So if you are a novice or a long time practitioner of mindfulness and meditation you will be helped by this book. In gassho, Dr. B

Loved it! This book is for those who want an introduction to contemplation in higher education as well as for those looking to deepen their practice. It is the perfect balance of theory and application. Dan and Mirabai’s storytelling will renew your teaching spirit! If you read Heart of Education by Parker Palmer and Arthur Zajonc- this is a must read!! This sums it up for me, “After all, everything is education-every action and interaction is an opportunity for learning and cultivation. There is no such thing as “extracurricular” activities: every act is cultivating something. The question we must ask is: What is being cultivated?”This may be the book that brings contemplation in education into the forefront!

This book is a gem. Can we dare cultivate greater awareness in Academe? Have we remember how to ponder, how to tweak and test concepts with conscious thought in a context of quiet minds? We can cultivate a more contemplative and rational world!It may be more short-term fun to multi-task and rationalize our slightest desires into products and services in a world of consumers, but what if we saw ourselves as citizens instead of consumers? This book helps bring us back to reality, just in time to help prepare our college students for life in a very real, but full of promise and opportunity, post-consumerist world.

I used this as a backbone for prepping a course I taught last Spring. It was all I needed it to be and more. The research is cited and several contemplative practices introduced in a form useful for classrooms. The bibliographies at the end of each chapter led me to further excellent discoveries. If you are considering adding a contemplative component to your classes, I can't imagine a better place to start.

Very helpful for my research on mindfulness in education at the college and university level.

Good read

While the connections of contemplative practices to higher education seems a natural fit, this book's approach is rather light weight and undersells the possibilities I believe are present.

Good quality book and speedy delivery!