Day 1 Conference Proceedings

Engaging with Meditative Inquiry in Teaching, Learning, and Research

Abstract

The first day of the conference began with opening remarks on behalf of Mount Saint Vincent University by the Dean of Education Antony Card, and Associate Vice President of Research, Jacqueline Gahagan, as well as Alice Salt, the publishing editor from Routledge. Following that was an introductory talk by Ashwani Kumar, and a beautiful, visual presentation by artist and scholar Adam Podolski who discussed his artwork in Kumar’s (2019) Engaging with Meditative Inquiry in Teaching, Learning and Research. The first keynote panel of the conference included leading scholars in education research, Michael Corbett, Kent de Heyer, Lisa Merriweather, and Jack Miller, as they discussed research methodologies, the spirit of Àṣẹ, and holistic education. Next was a lovely conversation between Dr. William Pinar and Dr. Ashwani Kumar on meditative inquiry, currere, and life. The second panel included journal editors Paul Freedman, Laurel Tien, Helen E. Lees, Carlo Ricci, and Teresa-Strong Wilson, who offered discussion about publishing and scholarly writing in relation to meditative inquiry. The final panel of the day was made up of contemplative scholars Ehaab Abdou, Alexandra Fidyk, Martin Morrison, and Darlene St-Georges, who shared thoughts about contemplative practices, silence, culturally relevant pedagogy, and creation-based research.

Table of Contents

1) Opening Remarks - Page 2
2) Engaging with Meditative Inquiry in Teaching, Learning, and Research:
Editor’s and Illustrator’s Panel - Page 6
3) Keynote Panel 1: The Contributions of Meditative Inquiry to the Field of Education - Page 9
4) A Conversation on Meditative Inquiry - Page 14
5) Journal Editors' Panel: Meditative Inquiry and Holistic and Alternative Education Theories and Practices - Page 16
6) Holistic and Contemplative Education Scholars Panel - Page 21