Contemplative Practices, Equity and Social Justice

Hands held in heart shape, framing the sun.

The Contemplative Resource Center (CRC) celebrates the value of human diversity, as well as our core shared humanity. The CRC mission statement shared on our home page includes the goal to: Promote inclusivity, equity and social justice by increasing our capacity to connect and communicate with, and thereby learn from, one another. The CRC honors the ways in which contemplative, embodied and mindfulness practices can support increased self-awareness, learning, understanding, and action for a more just society.

Our University of Colorado Boulder campus defines diversity as including, but not limited to, cultural differences, race and ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, (dis)ability, creed, religious or spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, class, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, and political philosophy (IDEA Plan, page 7).

 

"There is a long tradition of social justice activism among contemplatives.

• Contemplative practices sustain our bodies and minds in the struggle for self-knowledge and against racism in all its forms;
• Contemplative sciences make these practices available to all people;
• Contemplative arts directly convey suffering and joy, and provide a vision of our unrealized potential;
• Contemplative philosophies contextualize our efforts so we never lose our common humanity;
• Contemplative intelligence maximizes the influence of our efforts while supporting the wisdom and compassion with which we make them."

- Professor Hal Roth, Director of Brown University's Contemplative Studies Initiative