Events

Beyond Mindfulness: Buddhism and Health in Historical Perspective

Public Humanities, Explorations in the Medical Humanities

September 25, 2017 Monday, 6:00pm–7:30pm EDT The Heyman Center, Second Floor Common Room, Columbia University
Cosponsor
  • Institute for Comparative Literature and Society
Organizers
  • Arden Hegele
  • Carmel Raz
  • Heidi Hausse
  • Lan Li

The so-called “Mindfulness Revolution” sweeping through mainstream American popular culture has tended to overshadow both the deep historical roots of the connections between Buddhism and health, as well as the diversity of those Buddhist healing methods beyond merely meditation. This talk will place the contemporary focus on the health benefits of mindfulness within the history of Buddhist engagements with medicine. Dr. Salguero will outline the many rich and complex approaches to healing that have been (and still are) used in Buddhist communities worldwide, and will suggest directions for further historical and clinical research beyond mindfulness.