Created for the contemplative inquiry program, this guide provides suggested resources on the topic "What is contemplation?" as well as guidance for further exploration.

 Contact info

If you need help, please contact Adena Brons, Education Librarian at 778 782 7419 or abrons@sfu.ca or Ask a librarian

Reference sources

Suggestions:

• "Contemplation" in Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy
• "Meditation" in Oxford Bibliographies
• "Contemplation" in Encyclopedia of Adolescence
• "Meditation" in Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Health
• "Meditation" in Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
• "Meditation, Eastern" in New Dictionary of the History of Ideas
• "Meditation" in Encyclopedia of Religion
• "Meditation" in Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices

Books

Suggestions:

• Contemplative learning and inquiry across disciplines edited by Olen Gunnlaugson, Edward W. Sarath, Charles Scott, Heesoon Bai
• The pursuit of wisdom and happiness in education : historical sources and contemplative practices by Sean Steel
• Philosophy east/west : exploring intersections between educational and contemplative practices edited by Oren Ergas and Sharon Todd
• Cultivating a Culture of Learning: Contemplative Practices, Pedagogy, and Research in Education by Kathryn Byrnes, Jane Dalton, Elizabeth Hope
• The Contemplative Mind in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning by Patricia Owen-Smith
• Contemplative and artful openings : researching women and teaching by Susan Casey Walsh
• Mindfulness for teachers : simple skills for peace and productivity in the classroom by Patricia Jennings
• Lectio Divina as contemplative pedagogy : re-appropriating monastic practice for the humanities by Mary Keator

Explore related searches:

• Subject is: Contemplation
• Title contains: Contemplat*
• Subject is: Inquiry (Theory of knowledge)
• Subject is: Intersubjectivity
• Subject is: Meditation
• Subject is: Mindfulness (Psychology)
• Subject is: Reflective teaching
• Subject is: Transformative learning

Tip: Use the Resource Type filter to limit to books. Want more some search tips? See our Catalogue search guide.

Journal articles

Suggestions:

• Mindfulness and Contemplation: Secular and Religious Traditions in Western Context in Counseling and Values
• Reason in the Service of the Heart: The Impacts of Contemplative Practices on Critical Thinking in Journal of Contemplative Inquiry
• Defining Contemplative Science: The Metacognitive Self-Regulatory Capacity of the Mind, Context of Meditation Practice and Modes of Existential Awareness in Frontiers in Psychology
• Opening the Contemplative Mind in the Classroom in Journal of Transformative Education
• Contemplative education and youth development in New Directions in Youth Development
• An Education in Awareness: Self, Motivation, and Self-Regulated Learning in Contemplative Perspective in Educational Psychologist
• The case for a contemplative philosophy of education in New Directions for Community Colleges

Explore articles by database:

• Education Source
  Most comprehensive Education database for scholarly research and information.
• ERIC
  Find education-related journals, research reports, and curriculum materials.
• Philosopher's Index 
  Most comprehensive database for Philosophy.
• PsycINFO
  Most comprehensive Psychology research database.
• See all Education databases

Tip: See How to find journal articles > search tips.

Explore articles by browsing journals:

• Creativity Research Journal
• Dance, Movement & Spiritualities
• Holistic Science Journal
• International journal of listening
• International Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Society
• Janus Head
• Journal of Curriculum Theorizing (JCT Online)
• Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging
• Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
• Journal of Transformative Education
• Mindfulness
• Psychological Inquiry
• Spirituality and Health International

Dissertations & grey literature

"Grey literature" refers to materials produced outside of the traditional academic/commercial publishing channels, like reports, white papers, and government documents.

Suggestions:

• Being Mindful of Mindlessness: An Overview of Contemplative Education Programs for Secular Settings
• The Contemplative Life and the Teaching of the Humanities 

Explore dissertations:

Dissertations and Theses Abstracts and Index
Most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses from around the world, spanning from 1743 to the present day. To get the full-text, request it by Interlibrary Loan (click Get@SFU, then sign in to the catalogue to access the request form).

Media (film, music, sound, images)

Suggestions:

• On meditation : documenting the inner journey [DVD]
• World meditation : six daily meditations from around the world [online audio]
• Meditative stretching [online video]
• Healing through mindfulness [CD]
• A guide to walking meditation [VHS]
• Night Vigil: Shi mian [hanging scroll]
• The Poet and the Contemplative Life [sculpture]

Explore related searches:

• Subject contains: Meditation
• Subject is: Music for meditation
• Title contains: Contemplat*
• Subject contains: Mindfulness

Tip: Use the Resource Type filter to limit to Audio Visual. For images, see Finding and using online images.