Mindful teaching: Laying the Dharma foundations for Buddhist education in Australia

Authors

  • Zane Ma Rhea Monash University

Abstract

This paper reports on research conducted in the first mainstream school in Australia being guided by Buddhist philosophy. It focuses on a group of teachers, examining the impact of Buddhism on their teaching, exploring the challenge for them of bringing together their professional knowledge with Buddhist worldview. The major conclusion is that the school philosophy demands ‘mindful teaching’ through a confluence of elements that have direct impact on teachers: its pioneering school status and its conflict management practices that focus on self-responsibility and compassionate communication for creating a peaceful, mindful school culture of belonging; and, that these foundational elements required the teachers to be adaptive and willing to develop their understanding of Buddhism, and allow its influence into their professional practice, for example, their pedagogical approach and the development of curriculum materials.

Author Biography

  • Zane Ma Rhea, Monash University
    Dr Ma Rhea works in the Faculty of Education, Monash University. Her body of work focuses on the potential of, and future pathways for, mainstream education systems to develop wisdom in their students. Her research and teacher professional development work brings together mainstream education systems with communities previously considered as having knowledge ‘outside’ formal education to support both the preservation of a diversity of wisdom knowledge traditions and to enhance the academic achievement of students. Her internationally recognised theoretical work on the transfer of knowledge across cultural differences grew from her PhD research on the potential of wisdom to be developed in western mainstream education systems. Drawing on her background in Theravada Buddhism, she has an ongoing research interest in Buddhist pedagogy and Buddhist oriented schooling.

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Published

2012-12-07

Issue

Section

General Refereed Papers