De-Mystifying Mindfulness by Leiden University (Coursera)

We are witnessing a lot of interest in meditation, mindfulness, and contemplation these days. For some it’s a therapy, for others technology and for some a lifestyle choice. Tens of millions of people admit to practicing it in United States alone. Significant research into mindfulness has been going on in various disciplines in sciences, social sciences and humanities. This Mindfulness course aims to provide learners with theoretical and practical skills to understand and critically access mindfulness in its various forms. The course has evolved from popular Honours Academy course at Leiden University and is rooted in experiential learning providing an evidence base of what mindfulness can do to people and conceptual base of what mindfulness might actually be.

This is a very innovative course that encompasses ancient traditions and cutting edge science in order to de-mystify mindfulness as a technology for life. Experiential learning is at the heart of the course including specially designed ‘meditation labs’, in which learners get chance to practice and analyze mindfulness on themselves. There are 6 modules that explore the Psychology, Philosophy, Politics and Future of mindfulness. The course culminates with a Honours Project in which learners create original, new projects of their own based on the knowledge accumulated and experiences & insights gained throughout the course.

The course has been designed by Dr. Chris Goto-Jones, a very learned and renowned professor of Philosophy. He delivers the course in a very friendly and open style with a lot of focus on daily experiential practice. There are several useful resources provided for further studies.

This course serves a wide range of learners. Whether you are new to mindfulness looking for clarity, or a seasoned practitioner looking for more depth, or a mindfulness teacher looking to broaden your understanding or a therapist looking to diversify your knowledge, this course has something valuable to offer to everyone.

Key Highlights

• Get a responsible, comprehensive, and inclusive education about (and in) mindfulness as a contemporary phenomenon
• Understand popular conceptions and misconceptions about Mindfulness
• Evaluate the social and political significance of Mindfulness
• Interpret your own experiences of Mindfulness practices
• Compare different psychological and therapeutic approaches to Mindfulness

Duration : 5 Weeks, approx 3 hours per week theory + 30-45 minutes per day for experiential practices

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