Welcome. |
Welcome to the Dao Of Now in Education!
This website focuses on my research in holistic education within my current M.Ed course, Contemplative Inquiry: a first of its kind Master's program at Simon Fraser University. As a long time student of mindfulness meditation I am deeply curious about its profound potential in the enhancement of curriculum structure and student well-being. Much of my research revolves around how mindfulness can retain its traditional authenticity and integrity, whilst being taught in secularized institutions of higher education and business. Within this website you will find my assignments, research, and blogging updates, all giving insight into my own contemplative journey as I walk the path of mindfulness in higher education. |
About.
Future: The Vision
Using the research and experience I have gathered over the course of this master's and through my teaching of the immersion program, I am now in the process of developing a full blown mindfulness course that can be taught in universities across the world. This course curriculum would integrate a variety of subjects including the practical elements of mindfulness meditation and movement; the study of comparative religions & philosophy; immersion into the creative arts; and the learning of neuroscience and psychology within mindfulness practice. I see this as my next step as a mindfulness researcher and educator.
Present: The Now
I have used this Master's course as a springboard to launch into the design and teaching of Mindfulness meditation workshops for University educators and students. Such workshops teach the ancient practice of mindfulness meditation in a secularized way appropriate for institutional settings. This immersion program is intensive, running over a period of 2-3 days; within that time, participants learn foundational techniques in the practice of mindfulness and how to integrate it into everyday life. So far I have taught this workshop at AUSENCO Engineering in Vancouver, and Taylor's University in Kuala Lumpur. I hope to, by the end of this program, have led this same workshop for educators and students here at SFU.
The key premise behind the teaching of this type of mindfulness practice is that it is an every day practice: one that can be utilized anytime, anywhere, by anyone. It is also an inclusive practice that thrives in community and does not delineate between age, race, gender, or class. My goal through teaching these immersion programs is to help educators and students find stillness in their minds, so that they can more deeply connect with their hearts.
The key premise behind the teaching of this type of mindfulness practice is that it is an every day practice: one that can be utilized anytime, anywhere, by anyone. It is also an inclusive practice that thrives in community and does not delineate between age, race, gender, or class. My goal through teaching these immersion programs is to help educators and students find stillness in their minds, so that they can more deeply connect with their hearts.
Past: The History
The Dao Of Now was a project I constructed in early 2012. I had already begun to intricately explore the philosophy of Daoism and was starting to apply it to my own life and meditation practice. Initailly, the Dao of Now's key focus was on how to incorporate the teachings of Daoist sages into our busy, modern, and urban lives. I asked questions such as: How do we meet Lao Tzu at our local cafe, or Zhuang zhi at the nearby laundromat? And what would they have to teach us in this day and age?
This led to the creation of a blog, and my own meditation classes shortly after.
Within this M.Ed program, I hope to extend the translation of the same eastern teachings into the domain of education. I ask the key question: how can the contemplative teachings of the ancient sages be brought into education in order to enhance students own learning practices? If we see learning as an extension of our contemplative practice, perhaps Lao Tzu and his contemporaries will pay a visit to our classrooms as well.
This led to the creation of a blog, and my own meditation classes shortly after.
Within this M.Ed program, I hope to extend the translation of the same eastern teachings into the domain of education. I ask the key question: how can the contemplative teachings of the ancient sages be brought into education in order to enhance students own learning practices? If we see learning as an extension of our contemplative practice, perhaps Lao Tzu and his contemporaries will pay a visit to our classrooms as well.