Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108523

Adam Burke, PhD, MPH, LAc, Melanie Henderson, BA, and Barry Kline. Health Education/Institute for Holistic Healing Studies, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132, 415-338-1774, aburke@sfsu.edu

Civic engagement is a central theme of student education in many institutions of higher education, including San Francisco State University (SFSU). The goal is to help students understand their crucial role in creating supportive human environments. One aspect of this effort is curricular design that integrates community service learning into the classroom. SFSU defines service learning as “…an instructional method that combines formal coursework with thoughtfully organized community service experiences and utilizes the service experience as a course “text” for both academic learning and civic learning.”

A pilot program which seeks to foster deeper personal compassion and a valuing of social justice was evaluated. Many Eastern traditions integrate civic responsibility into their core philosophies. Within Buddhist tradition, for example, there is a strong emphasis on Metta, the practice of loving kindness. It was hypothesized that Metta-oriented practices would increase empathic capacity, perspective taking, and the valuing of social responsibility. To test this hypothesis daily Metta practices were used as a thematic element within of a 6-week SFSU course on Meditation and Imagery in Healing. Participants selected an individual or organization that would be the recipient of their Metta service activity. The daily Metta practices were derived from the Gandhi-King Season of Non-Violence 64 Daily Practices, and from reflections on Shantideva's “A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life” as described by the Dalai Lama & J Hopkins. Assessment of personal and community outcomes using pre-post comparisons of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, group discussion, and summary papers revealed positive effects.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Be able to describe the defining characteristics of community service learning as implemented in undergraduate programs;
• 2. Be able to describe the concept of Metta;
• 3. Be able to explain how a Metta practice could promote a service learning agenda;
• 4. Show the role of such daily practices in promoting community non-violence and well-being.

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.