Ethical Dimensions of Asian spiritual practices
Presentation
Overview
Overview
Description
This paper examines how Asian spiritual practices can impact student views of themselves and their relationships with others. It discusses quantitative and qualitative findings from an IRB¬-approved research study of 74 undergraduates at a southeastern public university who intentionally engaged in an experiential learning curriculum that included spiritual practices of social rituals, non¬-action, yoga, non¬violent communication, and meditation. For each spiritual practice students were instructed to engage in the activity for several days, journal each day about how it affected them and their relationships with others, and then submit a written assignment in which they brought their experience into dialogue with their understanding of Confucian, Daoist, Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions. Participants in the research study not only submitted their journals and assignments but also took pre¬-tests and post-¬tests about their opinion about their ethical responsibilities towards others as global citizens.
