Conversation #8: Contemplative Inquiry
Monday, April 6th, 2009Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download Conversation #8
A conversation with Dr. Arthur Zajonc of Amherst College on teaching, learning, and contemplative inquiry.
While we may begin with the “pause that refreshes,” if we leave it only at that then it’s seen only as a break from learning. I’m really keen on it being seen also as a means of learning. That is to say, we school our attention — that’s long been a part of the contemplative traditions, the deepening and stabilizing of attention — then, if we can bring that deepened and stabilized attention to the work at hand, it’s going to be far more productive. And in addition, if one can take up a practice such as this contemplative inquiry practice, we add to that an enhanced learning capacity. So not only attention is schooled but also a new modality of inquiry is also offered to the student.
Links referenced in this episode:
- Arthur Zajonc’s personal website
- Meditation as Contemplative Inquiry by Arthur Zajonc on SteinerBooks
- Center for Contemplative Mind in Society
- The Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education
A tip of the hat to the good folks at TalkShoe who helped us with some technical problems.
