HYTS3000 Mindfulness in the Modern World (5 cr)

The course is an academic course on Mindfulness, not a Mindfulness course. It will contain short bits of exercises, so that participants form an impression of the subject, but it will focus on how meditation expanded beyond monasteries, ashrams and caves into our busy modern world. We will be talking about Eastern spiritual practices in the West in general (including yoga), their roots, their benefits and applications, as well as ethical issues of ownership, belonging and changing meanings. The course will take a critical academic perspective of the issue and will be useful to anyone interested in Mindfulness personally, but also to students in Psychology, Education, Humanities and Business, who may be dealing with Mindfulness classes, approaches and principles one way or another in their future career. 

• understand Mindfulness as a rising global phenomenon
• appreciate applications of Mindfulness to different spheres of life, education, healthcare, business etc.
• critically assess claims made about Mindfulness, it’s effects, scientific evidence, its roots etc.
• navigate scientific and academic research on Mindfulness and its applications
• do some common Mindfulness practices.

Target group:

This course is better suited for MA students of Humanities, Psychology, Education, Business.

Modes of study:

Lectures and group discussions, a learning diary to submitted after the course.

Assessment:

The course will be assessed based on active participation in class and group work, and the quality of the written assignment.