Walking Towards Wisdom and Wholeness: Contemplative Education and Punjabi Gang Narratives
Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education January 1, 2026 Nevan Sidhu
Contemplative education can counteract the fragmenting effects of the Eurocentric British Columbia K-12 system and help cultivate wise, whole human beings. The article draws on the experiences of B.C. Punjabi male students subjected to harmful gang narratives that current educational approaches leave unaddressed. It argues that bringing attention to this issue allows alternate paradigms to flourish through contemplative approaches, supporting not only Punjabi males but also other marginalized students facing similar hegemonic discourses. The article proceeds in three parts: a positionality vignette, an analysis of Punjabi gang narratives and the education system's inadequacies, and specific contemplative pedagogical approaches and classroom activities for holistic growth. It concludes with a call to action for educators to incorporate contemplative education to advance equity and social justice.