How Mindfulness/Meditation Influences Change in Societies

Abstract

As is fitting for the 2022 theme of the AOM meeting “Creating a Better World Together,” the presenters in this panel symposium will explore how mindfulness/meditation contributes to creating a world that supports the flourishing of humans and all sentient beings—which is how we perceive the meaning of a “better” world. We intentionally use the combined term “mindfulness/meditation” in the title because of their close historical connection within wisdom traditions and because we focus on the area of intersection between them. A number of perspectives can be gleaned from discussions about mindfulness/meditation and societal change, but there is little research as to how it generates or is conducive to change towards healthier, more wholesome societies. We bring together panelists with considerable experience in terms of personal practice, scholarship, and coaching with regard to mindfulness/meditation and propose to explore their perspectives on this question, looking towards creating a theory of mindfulness-based societal change as a component of social change theory for the social sciences and management. This session will be a rousing conversation, following short presentations by the panelists, intended to help all of us challenge our own current thinking on how [the process by which] mindfulness/meditation influences change in societies. We intend for the session to lead to a symposium-type article on this question, so as to generate more awareness and research on this topic.