This paper explores the transformative potential of contemplative environmental education in addressing the growing disconnection between humans and the natural world, particularly within K-12 education systems shaped by anthropocentric and capitalist paradigms. Modern schooling often frames nature as an object of study, rather than a sacred, living presence, contributing to ecological...
Chronic pain is a health issue for millions of people and costs billions of dollars in health care and work productivity. Medical interventions, while sometimes beneficial, often fail, and issues surrounding opioid analgesics constitute a significant concern. Hypnosis has shown great promise in reducing suffering from chronic pain, but it is often applied incorrectly or insufficiently to...
Abstract The term ‘self’ refers to a dynamic and evolving concept that is contrasted with our awareness of physical objects in the world and as such is the centre and focus of our internal experiences, as an awareness of ourselves as a centre of experience. This chapter deals with the philosophical accounts of John Locke, David Hume, Immanuel Kant and Derek Parfit. These varying accounts...
This article introduces and examines Japanese philosopher Ikeda Daisaku's (1928–2023) perspectives on wisdom and contemplative effort, what Ikeda calls “human revolution,” at the heart of his practice of “human education.” Using bilingual and critical discourse analyses of the Ikeda corpus, the authors summarize Ikeda’s philosophy of human education, highlighting the role of human revolution as...
Abstract Across human cultures, rhythmic movement appears to be consistently associated with the induction of altered states of consciousness (ASCs), yet research on the topic remains scarce. In this chapter, we examine the potential role of rhythmic movement in ASC induction and its significance for understanding the evolution of dance and music. We discuss the cross-cultural spread of the...
This article examines Tee Yod (Death Whisperer, 2023), a Thai horror film directed by Taweewat Watanawat, through the lens of Buddhist psychology of trauma. Departing from the conventions of the Nang Phi genre, Tee Yod reinterprets the ghost as a metaphor for intergenerational suffering and psychological distress within a Buddhist cosmological and moral framework. Drawing on Theravāda Buddhist...
Yoga, an ancient Vedic science, promotes unity through postures, breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation. Bhastrika pranayama, also known as the "bellows breath," is a vitalizing practice that enhances air flow within the body, stimulates both gross and subtle aspects of the body and mind. It influences brain regions related to emotional processing, such as the amygdala and prefrontal...
Spiritual care occupations-spiritual direction and professional chaplaincy chief among them-occupy a professional jurisdiction whose cognitive foundation is not a body of techniques but an ontological commitment: the claim that the phenomena they address (vocation, discernment, encounter, the experience of being addressed by something exceeding the self) are real in a manner not exhaustively...
This work presents the integration of contemplative practice engaging western and eastern philosophies about apperception, consciousness, presence with an art practice that uses diagrammatic contemplation as a basis for developing and presenting art. The aim is not just an optical effect, but to engage the viewer in experiencing non-dual consciousness.
The rapid development of artificial intelligence has revived enduring philosophical questions about the nature of consciousness, mind, and moral responsibility. This paper examines whether advanced AI systems could possess forms of awareness comparable to human consciousness. It analyzes the implications of such a possibility through major philosophical perspectives, including dualism,...