Mindfulness and Meditation as Pedagogical Methods for Adult and Higher Education

Abstract The terms “mindfulness” and “meditation” often are used synonymously. In Western cultures, mindfulness and meditation practices are primarily utilized for the purpose of stress reduction. Through this study, researchers and practitioners who employ these practices in their academic work at a singular state university reveal distinct definitions of the two terms. Also, various outcomes in addition to stress reduction, such as unpacking narratives to raise consciousness, are uncovered. The combination of defining the two terms along with the possibilities of diverse learning outcomes informs ways in which these practices are understood as valuable pedagogical methods for adult and higher education.