ABSTRACT
Ethnography, with all its limitations – made evident in its formation through the initial colonialist encounters of the Western and non-Western world – has as its strongest impulse the quest to see and understand “others” on their own terms and to step out of our own viewpoints in order to do so. Contemplative practices – what is popularly called “mindfulness” – can enhance the capacity to do these things: helping us to listen more deeply, see more expansively and connect more compassionately with others as we become more aware of our own thoughts and feelings as thoughts and feelings. Across disciplines, fields and activities, there is a growing buzz about the promise of presence, with claims about how mindfulness can be used to manage stress, center ourselves, live more fully, connect more deeply and treat ourselves and others with greater loving kindness. The chapter also provides an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
