Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Series | Book | Chapter

192739

Community-engaged mindfulness and social justice

an inquiry and call to action

Rhonda V. Magee

pp. 425-439

Abstract

This chapter presents an argument for mindfulness and secular Buddhism as inherently suffused with what might be called social justice concerns and thus calls for mindfulness teaching which includes practices and teachings that make explicit the links between mindfulness and social justice. Drawing on my experience within the fields of mindfulness teaching, law teaching, and contemplative pedagogy, in the first part of this chapter, I discuss how the practices we call mindfulness tend to cultivate a felt sense not only of interconnectedness and compassion but also of solidarity—unity of agreement in feeling or action (especially among individuals with a common purpose)—among practitioners, that assist us in working together for a more just world. I support these claims by reference to an exploratory case study: an offering of community-engaged mindfulness to address a community facing revelations of racism among law enforcement in a major American city.

Publication details

Published in:

Purser Ronald E, Forbes David, Burke Adam (2016) Handbook of mindfulness: culture, context, and social engagement. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 425-439

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-44019-4_28

Full citation:

Magee Rhonda V. (2016) „Community-engaged mindfulness and social justice: an inquiry and call to action“, In: R.E. Purser, D. Forbes & A. Burke (eds.), Handbook of mindfulness, Dordrecht, Springer, 425–439.