De-Mystifying Mindfulness

Interest in meditation, mindfulness, and contemplation has grown exponentially in recent years. Rather than being seen as mystical practices from ancient Buddhism or esoteric philosophy, they are increasingly seen as technologies rooted in evidence from psychology and neuroscience. Mindfulness has become the basis for numerous therapeutic interventions, both as a treatment in healthcare and as a means of enhancing well-being and happiness. For millions around the world, mindfulness has become a life-style choice, enhancing and enriching everyday experience. Mindfulness is big business.But, what actually is mindfulness? Is it really good for you? Can anyone learn it? How can you recognize charlatans? Would you want to live in a mindful society, and would it smell like sandalwood? What does it feel like to be mindful? Are you mindful already, and how would you know?

Evolving from the popular Honours Academy course at Leiden University, this innovative course combines conventional scholarly inquiry from multiple disciplines (ranging from psychology, through philosophy, to politics) with experiential learning (including specially designed ‘meditation labs,’ in which you’ll get chance to practice and analyze mindfulness on yourself). In the end, the course aims to provide a responsible, comprehensive, and inclusive education about (and in) mindfulness as a contemporary phenomenon.

During the production of this course, we have been supported by Willem Kuyken, Director of the University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre, and Stephen Batchelor, co-founder of Bodhi College. And we gratefully acknowledge the contributions made by Mark Williams, co-developer of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and Rebecca Crane, Director of the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at the University of Bangor. We have recently added expert advice from Dawn Scott (Spirit Rock & Barre Centre for Buddhist Studies), Sydney Spears (University of Kansa), Elisabeth Stanley (Georgetown University), Susan Woods (Centre for Mindfulness Studies), Patricia Rockman (University of Toronto) and Jeff Corntassel (University of Victoria).

“A deep and profound dive into the ethical, social, psychological, and philosophical implications of modern-day mindfulness practice. The course is not for the faint of heart, perhaps, but it is also full of practical, guided exercises for the uninitiated! Thank you for redefining my relationship to Mindfulness in a completely new and thought-provoking way” 28 april 2021

“The course enabled me to explore the mindfulness construct at its deeper lever from philosophical, psychological and political lenses. The mindfulness labs were very useful in practicing the skills of being mindful.” 23 nov 2018

“i took this course after a period of time when I was trying to practice mindfulness and meditation, but with doubtful success. The course answered many questions to me, and I needed that to keep me motivated. It really helped me understand the origins and, more importantly, benefits of mindfulness practice and made me persist in my attempts. I’m really glad I took the course, I find it interesting, well taught and very useful for all those seeking deeper explanation in why trying mindfulness.” 9 Oct 2018

“I have taken other courses in other online platforms. However, this has been one of the best courses I have found online.” 3 Oct 2018

“I really like the invitation to us, the learners, to rethink our preconceptions and beliefs, and then make our own judgement about mindfulness. The overall tone was very friendly and open, resources very useful.” 12 Dec 2017

• Understand popular conceptions and misconceptions about Mindfulness

• Interpret your own experiences of Mindfulness practices

• Evaluate the social and political significance of Mindfulness

• Compare different psychological and therapeutic approaches to mindfulness

Syllabus

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week 1
Welcome to the course
Week 2
Introduction to Mindfulness
Week 3
Psychology of/& Mindfulness
Week 4
Philosophy of/& Mindfulness
Week 5
Politics of/& Mindfulness
Week 6
Extra 2021: Mindfulness, Trauma and Social Justice
Week 7
Extra 2021: Mindfulness and Nature & Land
Week 8
Mindfulness into the Future
Week 9
Honours Project

FAQ

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Is this course safe? Do I need support?

It is very wise to consider whether you need support for your participation in this course. You will spend quite a lot of time working on yourself, so it is possible that issues will emerge that disturb you. So, before you start the course, consider telling a good friend or family member that you intend to take this course and ask them to be available for you if you need some support during the course. Perhaps they will even want to take the course with you. You can also make use of the community of students and teachers around this course to seek support and answers to your questions. You will probably discover very quickly that many of us share similar issues, and that talking with your peers about them will help. Finally though, do not be afraid to seek more professional help if issues arise with which you feel unable to cope. Remember, this course is not itself a programme of therapy. In the end, if it feels too much, you should be willing to reconsider whether this is the right time for you to take this course -- do not feel pressured or obliged to continue it. You can leave and rejoin at any time, as feels comfortable to you.

Reviews

A course that will open your mind and heart. I thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt so much about Mindfulness and how I want to incorporate it into my daily life, relationships and personality. Thank you!

Excellent course to get deeper into both practical and theoretical knowledge about mindfulness. I would not recommend this course though to people with a lot of knowledge already about mindfulness.

This course has greatly enriched my life and helped me so much to find greater peace and gratitude in my life. The practices do require a lot of time, but are very worth it.

Absolutely a powerful course!!! Dr. Chris Goto-Jones is an excellent and an inspiring instructor! Very meaningful content and very self-enhancing. Thank you for this wonderful course!