BUD120 Mindfulness Meditation
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the practice and insights of mindfulness meditation.
Course Objectives: The students will
- Be able to develop and cultivate their own individualized mindfulness meditation practice: sitting, walking, and standing.
- Know the difference between physical pain and emotional pain, and between a thought and thinking a thought.
- Understand and deal with difficulties and distractions in their practice.
- Be able to differentiate mindfulness from concentration and how they support each other.
- Be able to integrate mindfulness into their daily life.
Course Credit
Upon completion of this course, students will earn 1.2 CEUs (Continuing Education Units), stated on the certificate, from University of the West. Each student will also receive a chrono.
Class Structure (time subject to change) – face to face instructions only
20 minutes: Sitting Meditation
20 minutes: Lecture
50 minutes: Open Discussion
If the student is not able to attend the lecture or in another institution, he or she can take class and complete all written assignments and mail them to the instructor. The course is designed in such a way that the student can study and receive credits as long as all required work is completed.
Class Sessions
1. Understanding Mindfulness and Developing the Practice
Reading due before class: Chapter 1-9
Essay
Develop and describe your own meditation practice: sitting, standing and walking. What are your initial successes and challenges? If you are experienced in meditation, reflect back to the time when you first started and share your experience: successes and challenges.
2. Dealing with Difficulties and Distractions
Reading due before class: Chapter 10-12
Essay
Having practiced your mediation, discuss your physical pain and/or emotional pain if any. What are the disctractions you experience and how do you deal with them?
3. Differentiating Mindfulness from Concentration
Reading due before class: Chapter 13-14
Essay
Bhante Guaratana discusses the characteristics and functions of mindfulness in chapter 13 & 14. How can you tell when you are pradticing mindfulness during meditation? When do you practice concentration? Please explain referencing the discussions in those two chapters.
4. Integrating Mindfulness into Daily Life
Reading due before class: Chapter 15-16, Aftwerward and Appendix
Essay
Having solely focused on mindfulness practice in the past few months, how will you integrate mindfulness into your daily life (be specific)? What do you hope to achieve and what is your vision? Has the practice of mindfulness helped you in anyway?
Feedback/Evaluation
Please write your feedback on the course: the book and assignments. Is this course helpful? What would you like to change, if any?
Assessment
The class is pass/fail. All essays must be completed and of your own writing in order to receive a passing grade. Each essay must be three to five pages long (handwritten) and show that you are making a sincere effort in learning about mindfulness, develop your meditation practice, describe the experience, share what is difficult, what questions you have, and most importantly your insights from the practice. Please include your name, course number, CDC number, and cell number on each essay. If possible, please use MLA or APA style and include a bibliography in your citations (though this is not required).
If you mail your essay, PLEASE MAKE A COPY FOR YOUR RECORD in case it gets lost in the mail.The mailing address below is a PO box on the University of the West campus, NOT a private mailing address:
UWEST PI
c/o:
1409 Walnut Grove Ave.
Rosemead, CA 91770