Research Statement
Using an interdisciplinary and autoethnographic approach, how does practicing mindfulness in a rural setting differ from the practice in an urban setting, and can it be practiced at the same caliber? To answer this I aim to discover habits from the best meditation and mindfulness leaders and to use my own practice to describe the meaning behind it.
Objectives
To aid others in their own healing process through mindfulness mediation and remind readers that deep breathing has a place anywhere in life.
Rationale for Interdisciplinary Approach
I have chosen an interdisciplinary topic in itself. It is comprised of health, geography, adventure, and being in tune with ourselves.
Identification of Relevant Disciplines
My topic focuses on the interconnectedness between society and the self. I use geography, adventure, and spirituality to decipher how we can create meaning.
Project Outline
Topics:
- History and describing mindfulness and meditation
- Why meditation and mindfulness are important keys to life
- Discovering how to practice both mindfulness and mediation and recording results
- How to reach your mindfulness potential in different settings
- How to enjoy and slow life down using mindfulness and mediation practices
Working Reference List
Brown, B. (2017). Braving the Wilderness. New York: Penguin Random House.
Csikszentimihalyi, M. (1991). Flow. New York: Harper Collins.
Ellis, C; Adams, E. T.; Bochner, P. A. (2011). Autoethnography: An Overview. Historical Social Research, 36 (4), 273-290.
Iyer, P. (2014). The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation In Everyday Life. New York: Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data.
Kaplan. S. J. (2010). Urban Mindfulness: cultivating peace, presence and purpose in the middle of it all. Oakland: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Lefebvre, H & Levich, C. (1987). The Everyday and Everydayness. Yale French Studies, 73, 7-11. Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/2930193.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A1f8bf3fc5a7925d85d7f6c25a8958073
McCown, D. & Micozzi S. M. (2011). New World Mindfulness: From the Founding Fathers, Emerson and Thoreau to Your Personal Practice. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Muir, J. (1954). The Wilderness World of John Muir. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Shojai, P. (2016). The Urban Monk. United States: Rodale Inc.
Stringer, A & McAvoy, H. L. (1992). The Need for Something Different: Spirituality and Wilderness Adventure. Journal of Experiential Education, 15 (1), 13-20.
Thera, N. (1962). The Heart of Buddhist Meditation: A Handbook of Mental Training Based on the Buddha’s Way of Mindfulness. London: Rider and Co.
Thoreau, D. H. (1960). Walden. New York: Signet Classics.
Tolle, E. (1999). The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. Novato: New World Library.