Returning to Silence, Connecting to Wholeness: Contemplative Pedagogy for Critical Social Work Education

Abstract

This article introduces contemplative silence and the wholeness of being into critical social work education. It draws on in-depth interviews with students 1 year after the completion of a course to reflect on the impact of contemplative practice and mindfulness practice on the students' personal lives and critical social work practice. Students' reflection shows the power of contemplative pedagogy and mindfulness in deepening their awareness through the 5 senses: sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste. They came to embody critical reflective practice in a way that is not achieved to the same depth through conventional teaching and learning of critical practice with only the mind.

Keywords:

• awareness
• contemplative pedagogy
• contemplative silence
• critical social work
• embodied critical reflective practice
• mindfulness
• wholeness