Arthur Zajonc

Mindfulness in Education

In academia there has been a flurry of research on the topic in recent years. Professor Arthur Zajonc has brought attention to the field through his work as the academic program director at the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society. He is considered a leading thinker in the arena of mindfulness in education.

In "Mindfulness in Meditation". Zajonc explains that contemplative education helps students make meaning of a fast-changing, complex world: “Students are taught the skills needed to assimilate and transmit information through reading, writing and mathematics.But such single input-output functions are but one dimension of education. Something more is needed to convert information into meaningful knowledge.”  He sees a direct link between contemplative practices and the development of a peaceful global community, “Only a profoundly contemplative and transformative education has the power to nurture the vibrant, diverse civilization that should be our global future.”