Meditative, Mindful, and Happy .edu



Meditative, Mindful, and Happy NCTH 114 / 21389Course Syllabus - Fall 2015Non-credit/face-to-face formatInstructor: Kenneth Rose, PhDktr5e@virginia.edu Instructor Bio: Kenneth Rose is a professor of philosophy and religious studies and the director of the religious studies program at Christopher Newport University. He holds a PhD in religious studies from Harvard University and a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. He is the author of the forthcoming Yoga, Meditation, and Mysticism: Contemplative Universals and Meditative Landmarks, as well as Pluralism: the Future of Religion, and Knowing the Real: John Hick on the Cognitivity of Religions and Religious Pluralism, in addition to many scholarly articles and reviews. Dates/Times: Mondays, 6:30 - 8:30pm, Dates TBD.Tentative Location: UVa Darden Graduate School of Business, Room 40. SIS Course Description: Explores the spiritual roots of mindfulness in Buddhist and other classic meditation traditions alongside academic and scientific study of the role that mindfulness plays in human flourishing. Compares the practical understanding of ancient, modern, Asian, and European philosophical and empirical views of what constitutes happiness. Introduces basic practices of meditation and how to integrate them as a resource for the cultivation of happiness.Course Overview: Who doesn’t want to be happy? Who doesn’t want increased life quality? The problem is that we don’t always know what will make us happy—or we do, but we just seem unable to get there. This is where meditation comes in, since research makes it clear that mindfulness meditation—the simple act of just settling the mind down and looking within—can make your mind—and you—calm and happy. And happiness defeats depression, procrastination, addictions, decreases sensitivity to pain, reduces stress, and increases your ability to learn. Mindfulness meditation, or close observation of our always changing inner and outer circumstances, is a magic bullet that brings waves of happiness flooding into our everyday lives by helping us turn unhelpful thought patterns and habits into positive responses promoting physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, or happiness. Now that the study of the ancient meditation technique of mindfulness has moved from Buddhist monasteries to Western universities, we will have the opportunity in this course to explore the spiritual roots of mindfulness in Buddhist and other classic meditation traditions alongside academic and scientific study of the role that mindfulness plays in human flourishing. Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes:By course end, students will…Gain technical and practical understanding of ancient, modern, Asian, and European philosophical and empirical views of what constitutes happiness. Have greater ability to think philosophically about spiritual practices such as meditation and contemplation. Be able to explain the basic practices of meditation and to integrate them as a resource for the cultivation of happiness.Recommended Text: Rick Hanson, The Buddha's Brain Suggested texts, materials, helpful websites, etc.: The following books are not required but they can serve to broaden one’s understanding of current research on and practice of mindfulness, meditation, and happiness:Dan Harris, 10% HappierDaniel Haybron, HappinessJon Kabat-Zinn, Full Catastrophe LivingGretchen Rubin, The Happiness ProjectNyanaponika Thera, The Heart of Buddhist MeditationTeresa Aubele, et al. Train Your Brain to Get HappyHerbert Benson, The Relaxation ResponseBhante Henepola Gunaratana, Mindfulness in Plain English Jonathan Haidt, The Happiness HypothesisMartin Seligman, FlourishThe Dalai Lama, How To PracticeSCPS Inclement Weather/Emergency Hotline: 434-924-4364This line will be updated in the event that ALL SCPS classes are cancelled or if all UVa classes are cancelled (this applies to evening classes as well). Individual SCPS class cancellations due to weather or other instructor issues will likely NOT be included on this phone line, but will be communicated to students via email as soon as a decision has been made. Class Instruction: The course will center on discussions, which will be supplemented by mini-lectures, PowerPoint slides, and online resources. Class Expectations: This is a non-credit course, so there are no formal requirements for attendance and participation, but students will derive more benefit from this course through regular attendance, engagement with the required readings, and active engagement in class discussions.Class ScheduleWk 1 (9/14)Topic: Mindfulness, Meditation, and Happiness: What’s the Connection?Reading: “A Wandering Mind is an Unhappy Mind.” M. A. Killingsworth & D. T. Gilbert, Science, 18 May 2010. Short handout to be read together during this sessionWk 2 (9/21)Topic: Getting Acquainted with Mindfulness Reading: Hanson, The Buddha's Brain, chapters 1-2Wk 3 (9/28)Topic: Mindfulness in Practice Readings: Hanson, The Buddha's Brain, chapters 3-4Wk 4 (10/5)Topic: Feeling Happy vs. Being HappyReadings: Hanson, The Buddha's Brain, chapters 5-6Wk 5 (10/19)Topic: Changing our Happiness Style Readings: Hanson, The Buddha's Brain, chapters 7-8Wk 6 (10/26)Topic: The Three Bases of a Meditative PracticeReading: Hanson, The Buddha's Brain, chapters 9-10Wk 7 (11/2)Topic: Mindfulness in the Spectrum of Meditation PracticesReading: Hanson, The Buddha's Brain, chapters 11-12Wk 8 (11/9)Topic: Happiness and SpiritualityReading: Hanson, The Buddha's Brain, chapter 13Communication: You can expect a prompt response to emails sent to me during business hours, the next day for overnight emails, and by the end of the weekend for messages sent during the weekend.Resources: The course syllabus will be handed out in class and is accessible through the course’s Website on UVaCollab.Technical Specifications: Computer Hardware Computer with basic audio/video output equipmentInternet access (broadband recommended)Microsoft WordTechnical Support ContactsLogin/Password: scpshelpdesk@virginia.eduUVaCollab: collab-support@virginia.edu BbCollaborate (Elluminate) Support: PoliciesSCPS Grading Policies: Courses carrying a School of Continuing and Professional Studies subject area use the following grading system:? A+, A, A-; B+, B, B-; C+, C, C-; D+, D, D-; F.? S (satisfactory) and U (unsatisfactory) are used for some course offerings. For noncredit courses, the grade notation is N (no credit). Students who audit courses receive the designation AU (audit). The symbol W is used when a student officially drops a course before its completion or if the student withdraws from an academic program of the University. Please visit scps.virginia.edu/audience/students/grades for more information.Attendance: Students are expected to attend all class sessions. Instructors establish attendance and participation requirements for each of their courses. Class requirements, regardless of delivery mode, are not waived due to a student's absence from class. Instructors will require students to make up any missed coursework and may deny credit to any student whose absences are excessive. Instructors must keep an attendance record for each student enrolled in the course to document attendance and participation in class. University Email Policies: Students are expected to check their official UVa email addresses on a frequent and consistent basis to remain informed of University communications, as certain communications may be time sensitive. Students who fail to check their email on a regular basis are responsible for any resulting consequences.University of Virginia Honor System: All work should be pledged in the spirit of the Honor System at the University of Virginia. The instructor will indicate which assignments and activities are to be done individually and which permit collaboration. The following pledge should be written out at the end of all quizzes, examinations, individual assignments and papers: “I pledge that I have neither given nor received help on this examination (quiz, assignment, etc.)”. The pledge must be signed by the student. For more information, visit virginia.edu/honor. Special Needs: It is the policy of the University of Virginia to accommodate students with disabilities in accordance with federal and state laws.?Any SCPS student with a disability who needs accommodation (e.g., in arrangements for seating, extended time for examinations, or note-taking, etc.), should contact the Student Disability Access Center (SDAC) and provide them with appropriate medical or psychological documentation of his/her condition. Once accommodations are approved, it is the student’s responsibility to follow up with the instructor about logistics and implementation of accommodations.?Accommodations for test taking should be arranged at least 14 business days in advance of the date of the test(s).?Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the SDAC: 434-243-5180/Voice, 434-465-6579/Video Phone, 434-243-5188/Fax. Further policies and statements are available at virginia.edu/studenthealth/sdac/sdac.htmlFor further policies and statements about student rights and responsibilities, please visit scps.virginia.edu/audience/students ................
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