CR 407/507 - Mindfulness and Conflict Resolution
Fall 2006

Isbel Ingham
503.725.9195
NH 225
ingham@pdx.edu
web.pdx.edu/~ingham


Readings:    
All of the links embedded in the online syllabus are required reading, and will help you during the weekend.
Book: How Can I Help, Ram Dass and Paul Gorman

You are expected to buy this book on your own, and write your final paper as a book review. Suggestions: there are several used copies, and several new copies at Powells. You can also buy it from abebooks.com--there are about 10 copies available for $1.00 (plus shipping), and many more for just slightly more than that.

 

DESCRIPTION:  Thich Nhat Hanh says "[m]indfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive, present and at one with those around you and with what you are doing. We bring our body and mind into harmony while we wash the dishes, drive the car or take our morning shower (http://www.plumvillage.org/)." This class will try to persuade students that, when applied to conflict resolution practices, mindfulness is capable of transforming our relationship to our work as conflict resolvers, and to each other. It can help us do much more effective work--however, the most important thing about mindfulness is that it can make our work much, much easier on us, the practices.

 

GOALS: 

That you will discover what a miracle mindfulness can be.
That you will learn some new, very effective conflict resolution techniques.

 

REQUIREMENTS:

This will be a very "hands-on" class. There is no way to teach mindfulness without practicing it. To that end, students will be expected to participate fully in several different kinds of exercises each day. These will include group work, dyads, and individual exercises.
There are two papers required for the class. The first is a short reflection paper, to be done the evening of the first night of class, due Saturday morning. The second is a final paper, due one month after the end of the class.

 

EVALUATION:

Grades will be based on your participation in class (100 points), a reflection paper (10 points), and the final paper (40 points). 

 

TIMELINESS: 

It is imperative that you are present for all of the times the class meets. The class is largely experiential. Moreover, we will be building a small sangha--and your presence will be required for a safe community to be built. Therefore, if you miss more than an hour of class time, your grade will go down a notch.  Miss more than two hours, it will go down another notch--three hours, and you will not pass the class.

Similarly, if you are late three times, it will count as an hour missed; four times will count as two hours missed, etc.

To this end, please sign the class list as you enter the room.

 

GRADES:      A=150 - 130 B=129 - 110 C=109 - 90 D=89 - 70 F=below 70

Course Outline

Friday, November 4th                                                                                             

Introduction to class and members              

Discussion of mindfulness
Discussion of deep listening--what does it mean to listen?  What's involved?

We will watch a short video on mediation.

We will also do some sitting meditation--and then debrief the experience.  

In that we will be doing some sitting meditation each day, please bring a pillow or mat to sit on that will enhance your comfort while sitting. You may also bring a candle if you wish, or anything else that helps you to relax and focus inward.

Books available for purchase in class.

 


Saturday, November 5th
Readings:
The fourteen mindfulness trainings, Thich Nhat Hanh
Bodhisattvas in the Subway, Peggy Rowe Ward
Silence: A Dharma talk given by Sister Jina

More of the above, with some wonderful stuff added as you gain confidence and experience.

11:30 - 1:00  Break

Ditto

Sunday, November 6th
Readings:
The Scent of Oranges, Nancy Hom
Be mindful and set yourself free, Melissa Prichard
See Saturday's schedule

ASSIGNMENTS 

Reflection Papers:  Please write a two page reflection paper that tells me about your relationship, to date, with mindfulness. In what ways it is easy for you? In what ways do you struggle with mindfulness? What would you like to accomplish in this class?

 

Final Paper:  Students are asked to write a 5-7 page book review about the book, How can I help. It can be a very personal paper, or you can write a research paper--this part is completely up to you, but you must discuss the book thoroughly, especially as it regards conflict resolution. You may also refer to any of the other readings you've done for the class.
This paper must be written to either APA or MLA standards--except that you do not need to write an abstract or use a title page.