Teaching Meditation and Prayer (DP3611C)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit develops the skills to teach meditation and prayer in a variety of contexts. It will consider the spiritual life across the lifespan and meditation methods appropriate for various age groups including children, teenagers and adults in contemporary context. Students will explore various approaches including mantra, scripture, symbols, mandala, the place of the body and spiritual journaling, with an emphasis on Christian approaches. The focus will be on silent meditation, and establishing places of silence in a contemporary context. Leadership qualities and ethical considerations required for teaching meditation to groups in a variety of settings will also be discussed. Students will engage in professional experience in teaching meditation and prayer at such locations as schools, hospitals, youth groups, parish groups, universities, aged-care facilities, retreat centres and homes. The framework and insights of the Enhancing Catholic Schools Identity project will be referred to in the teaching of this unit.

Unit code: DP3611C

Unit status: Approved (Minor revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies

Delivery Mode: Blended

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Articulate the biblical and theological background for meditation and prayer in the Christian tradition in a contemporary context.
2.

Describe and analyze spiritual growth at various stages of life development.
3.

Assess and apply appropriate models of prayer and meditation in various pastoral contexts.
4.

Articulate the fruits of meditation and prayer, and show how meditation is linked to action in these pastoral situations.

Unit sequence

DP2001C and DP2002C required as Pastoral Studies unit

Pedagogy

Learners will engage in intensive mode with lectures, workshops, facilitated peer discussion, electronic resources and professional experience.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Christie, Ernie. Coming Home: A Guide to Teaching Christian Mediation to Children. Mulgrave: John Garratt, 2007.
  • Kabat-Zinn, Jon. Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment and your Life. Boulder, CO: Sounds True, 2012.
  • Keating, Thomas. Intimacy with God. New York: Crossroad, 2001.
  • ---. Invitation to Love. New York: Continuum, 1998.
  • Mason, Michael, Andrew Singleton, and Ruth Weber. The Spirit of Generation Y: Young People’s Spirituality in a Changing Australia. Mulgrave: John Garratt, 2007.
  • May, Gerald G. The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2005.
  • Pearson, Mark. Emotional Healing & Self-esteem: Inner-life Skills of Relaxation, Visualisation and Meditation for Children and Adolescents. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research, 1998.
  • Stead, Tim. Mindfulness and Christian Spirituality: Making Space for God. Louisville: John Knox, 2017.
  • Tacey, David. The Spirituality Revolution: The Emergence of Contemporary Spirituality. Pymble: HarperCollins, 2003.
  • Vaillant, George. Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier life from the landmark Harvard Study of Adult Development. New York: Little Brown & Company, 2002.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Report 500 30.0
Portfolio

Note: a component of the portfolio is engaging in professional practice to which a hurdle task is attached. Students must demonstrate the ability to successfully conduct a group through two supervised sessions of meditation. If they have not demonstrated this ability (as determined by the supervisor) they cannot pass the unit irrespective of the grading received in the assessment tasks overall.

 4000 70.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 25 Nov, 2022

Unit record last updated: 2022-11-25 11:16:31 +1100