Transformative mindfulness: the role of mind-body practices in community-based activism

Abstract

This article emerges from the simple observation that community-based social and environmental activists often engage with practices of mindfulness, either personally or collectively. It draws on two case studies, a UK-based Transition initiative and a community of social entrepreneurs in Germany. On the surface, social and environmental activists, committed to change in the ‘real world’, outward facing and public, jar with practices of ‘mindfulness’: personal and interior actions –‘private’. We argue that post-foundationalist understandings of community, particularly Nancy’s being-in-common – popularised within geography as ‘community economies’ – and the philosophical and spiritual roots of mindfulness are two lines of thought that provide clues to this co-occurrence. Going beyond understandings of collectivity that build on the coming together of preformed individuals or presuppose a common substance, we set the (Westernised) Buddhist influences on mindfulness, specifically the notion of interbeing, side by side with Nancy’s being-in-common. This article argues that both the political and spiritual aspects of activism are integral parts of social change. It concludes that post-foundational and Buddhist-inspired lines of thought cross-fertilise and chart a course towards transformative mindfulness.

Being in the World Locally: Degrowth Business, Critical Realism, and Humanistic Geography

“…The desire to make a difference via the case firm appears to be connected with a spiritual practice of the PI and the other owner-employees' attentiveness and support toward the PI's spiritual practice. This is in line with a finding made recently by the geographers Schmid and Taylor Aiken (2020). In my conversations with the PI, I noted their references to mindfulness, meditation, natureconnectedness, simple living, and spirituality in a broad sense, i.e., without referring to any particular spiritual tradition (see, e.g., Nelson, 2009).…”

Mindful methodologies: Some limitations and concerns

“…Thus, care needs to be taken when using mindfulness methodologically, and I (as a geographer who is not trained in mindfulness or trauma-sensitive pedagogies) cannot offer solutions to the issues I have presented here-they instead require further thought and reflection by those intending to use mindfulness in their research design. Future research needs to attend to these questions in order to develop the encounter between geography, geographical methods and mindfulness-an encounter that is being furthered, particularly through exploration of varied forms of mindfulness beyond the rubric of MBSR and MBCT, and the ways these might intersect with social movements (Schmid & Taylor Aiken, 2021).…”

Antecedents and outcome of mindful buying

“…This proposed relationship is based on the following argument. First, considering the basic nature of mindfulness—that is, being aware of one's surrounding, its connection can be “synergistic, and not antagonistic, to social and environmental activism,” (Schmid & Aiken, 2021, p. 10). Schmid and Aiken (2021) further argue that the synergistic connection between mindfulness and environmental activism is based on the principle of engaged Buddhism that is meditation with social movement.…”

“…First, considering the basic nature of mindfulness—that is, being aware of one's surrounding, its connection can be “synergistic, and not antagonistic, to social and environmental activism,” (Schmid & Aiken, 2021, p. 10). Schmid and Aiken (2021) further argue that the synergistic connection between mindfulness and environmental activism is based on the principle of engaged Buddhism that is meditation with social movement. And there is some empirical evidence in support of this argument, showing a positive relationship between social activism and mindfulness (Wamsler et al, 2018).…”