Advances in Contemplative Social Research

Introduction 9

Part One ‒ The Basics of Contemplative Research 25
Chapter 1. Identity Processes and Dialogicality of Self ‒ the Problem of Anamnesis 27
1.1. Introduction 27
1.2. “I” 27
1.3. “Me” 28
1.4. Dialogue – ‘internal conversations’ 28
1.5. Anamnesis 29
1.6. Anamnesis Work 31
1.7. Work on Identity 32
1.8. Conclusions 36
Chapter 2. Meditation for Social Scientists 39
2.1. Introduction 39
2.2. Epistemology of the Middle Way 39
2.3. Eightfold Path: Ethics and Cognition 43
2.4. Meditation Practice for Sociologists 50
2.5. Deconstruction and Reconstruction 53
2.6. Intuition for Sociologists 59
2.7. Conclusions 64
Chapter 3. Contemplation for Economists. Towards a Social Economy Based on Empathy and Compassion 69
3.1. Introduction 69
3.2. The Cult of Money according to David Loy 74
3.3. The Buddhist Economy according to Frederic L. Pryor 77
3.4. Towards a Social Economy 80
3.5. Conclusions 81
Chapter 4. The Problem of Ontological Insecurity. What Can We Learn from Sociology Today? Some Zen Buddhist Inspirations 87
4.1. Introduction 87
4.2. Zen Buddhist Inspirations for Sociology 90
4.3. Sociological Inspirations 92
4.4. What is Ontological Security? 99
4.5. Suffering 103
4.6. Greedy Institutions 108
4.7. Conclusions 114

Part Two ‒ The applications 121
Chapter 5. Standing in Public Places: An Ethno-Zenic Experiment Aimed at Developing Sociological Imagination, and More Besides… 123
5.1. Introduction 123
5.2. Methodology 128
5.3. The Analysis of Auto-Reports 132
5.3.1. Standing “Activity” 132
5.3.2. Thinking 132
5.3.3. The Strength of the Mind and Thinking—The Battle of Thoughts 134
5.3.4. Mindfulness Appears 135
5.3.5. The Reactions of ‘Normal Others’ 136
5.3.6. Reflections After the Experiment 136
5.4. Conclusions 138
Chapter 6. Contemplating Technology in Qualitative Research 141
6.1. Introduction 141
6.2. The Research and Disputes on CAQDAS 143
6.3. Perspective of the Research 146
6.4. Research, Methods, and Data 152
6.5. Explicitation. The Central Themes of All the Auto-reports 155
6.5.1. Overview 155
6.5.2. Technical Activities and Analytical Thinking 156
6.5.3. Parallel Paths of Thinking 160
6.5.4. Auxiliary Activities 161
6.5.5. Evaluative Thinking: Evaluating the Program and Computer Functions and the Comfort and Efficiency of the Work 161
6.5.6. The Issue of Concentration 162
6.5.7. Auto-observation/ Auto-reporting 164
6.5.8. The Perception of the Body 165
6.5.9. Emotions 167
6.6. Unique Topics 168
6.7. Physical Elements of the Situation 170
6.8. Conclusions 171
6.8.1. Methodological conclusions 175
Chapter 7. Experiencing the University 179
7.1. Introduction 179
7.2. Research, Methods, and Data 180
7.3. Research Results: Experiencing the University Organizational Culture 183
7.3.1. Experiencing Emotional States While Being at the University 184
7.3.2. Experiencing the University Infrastructure and Its Services 187
7.3.3. Organization Participants’ Routine Activities 192
7.3.4. Social Relations at the University 194
7.3.5. Unique Themes of Meaning Not Related to the Foregoing Ones 196
7.4. Discussion 196
Chapter 8. Hatha-yoga in Higher Education 201
8.1. Introduction 201
8.2. Yoga in Higher Education 203
8.3. Applications of Hatha-Yoga in Higher Education 205
8.4. Yoga Practice at the Course of “Meditation for Managers” 208
8.5. Conclusions 216
Chapter 9. Buddhism Zen and Qualitative Research 221

Part three ‒ Technicalities 225
Chapter 10. Technical Aspects of Contemplative Research 227
10.1. Introduction 227
10.2. Meditation 228
10.3. Self-observation 229
10.4. How to Write Auto-reports 231
10.5. Zenic Experiments 231
10.6. Contemplation 233
10.6.1. Empathetic Experiments 234

Conclusions 237
Bibliography 243
Information about the author 259