The Body Scan Meditation as a Part of Contemplative Pedagogy

Authors

  • Sabrina D MisirHiralall Montclair State University

Abstract

Through my ongoing self-study, I came to understand the need to vary my secular meditative contemplative practices that I usually begin class with.  My students enjoyed the loving-kindness meditation that I developed with them as a part of our Ethics class one semester at Middlesex County College.  In fact, several of my students and I filmed a YouTube video that conveys the rationale for the loving-kindness meditation and shares a suggestive script for the loving-kindness mediation.  I elaborate on this in my article REMOVED FOR BLIND REVIEW, which is published in the journal of Teacher Learning and Professional Development (REMOVED FOR BLIND REVIEW).  I began to ponder on other unique secular meditations that I should explore.  I soon decided to explore the body scan meditation as a part of my contemplative pedagogy that I am focused on improving. 

Author Biography

Sabrina D MisirHiralall, Montclair State University

Sabrina D. MisirHiralall, Ed.D. together with Christopher Fici and Gerald Vigna edited the text Religious Studies Scholars as Public Intellectuals for the Routledge in Religion Series.  In addition, MisirHiralall recently published a book entitled Confronting Orientalism A Self-Study of Educating Through Hindu Dance.  In the text, MisirHiralall focuses on how she uses Kuchipudi Indian classical Hindu dance to educate non-Hindus about Hinduism with postcolonial realities in mind.  MisirHiralall aims to develop a de-Orientalized postcolonial pedagogy to confront Orientalism and the long legacy of colonization. She defended her dissertation De-Orientalized Pedagogy: Educating Non-Hindus About Hinduism Through Kuchipudi Indian Classical Hindu Dancein the Pedagogy and Philosophyprogram at Montclair State University.  

MisirHiralall completed her RangaPravesam, which means to “ascend the stage.”  The RangPravesammarked the start of her dance career.  She had the lead role in Krishnarpanamand holds the title of Natya Tilakam, which was given to her by dance guru, Smt. Sadhana Paranji.  She was the solo featured performance in Contemplative Kuchipudi Danceat Montclair State University in April 2013. 

MisirHiralall taught second grade in Bayonne, New Jersey and also worked as a consultant for New Jersey City University’s Striving Readers Grant.  At NJCU, she taught undergraduate education classes, supervised student teachers, taught graduate students of the NOYCE fellowship program, and taught for the Philosophy and Religion department.  In addition, she taught philosophy courses as well as student success courses part-time at Middlesex County College.  In fact, MisirHiralall received the Adjunct Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award 2015 from MCC.She currently teaches as an adjunct professor in the Educational Foundations Department at Montclair State University where she often teaches Philosophy of Education, History of American Education, and Gender Issues in Education. She occasionally teaches in the Religion Department as well.  She also adjuncts at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey where teaches Introduction to Gender, Race, and Sexuality for the Women and Gender Studies Department.  In addition, she was invited to teach an Honors level course entitled Internship Seminar: Women, Work, and Community for the Leadership Scholars Program hosted by the Institute of Women’s Leadership at Rutgers University.

MisirHiralall is frequently invited to lecture and dance in higher education as she presents on Hinduism with postcolonialism in mind.  She is a member of the American Education Research Association, the American Academy of Religion, and the American Philosophical Association.  She currently serves as the Associate Editor of the Blog of the American Philosophical Association. 

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Published

18-10-2021

Issue

Vol. 6 (2021): Framing Professional Development

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Sabrina D MisirHiralall

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