I participate in an international group, Mindful Researchersopens in new window, exploring contemplative or phenomenological co-creative processes. In the use of these terms “contemplative” and “phenomenological,” I incorporate Husserl’s meaning of transcendental experience, that is an enriching of one’s access to intimate and often unnoticed human experience, which is also cognizant of enactive capacities (Maturana & Varela, 1992; Varela, Thompson, & Rosch, 1991; Thompson, 2007), embodied consciousness embedded in the physical and biological world. My inspiration for participating in this work comes in part from Husserl’s challenge to bring increased integrity to science by recapturing through the human person the connections between science and philosophy (Husserl, 1954/1970). My hope is in supporting science that is aware of insubstantiality and constant change, uses systems approaches and maintains relational focus in its design and discussion, and accepts both the limitations of human engagement and the benefits from inclusion and awareness of human experience at all levels of the process (Rees, 2019). Our work with Mindful Researchers engages and impacts especially the design of research projects, means of implementation, and the awareness of the researcher.
The Mindful Researchers are, mostly young, early-stage professionals, largely but not exclusively academics, who wish to live and work in an environment that welcomes their passionate interests and supports their preference for contemplative/phenomenological and exploratory approaches. They envision a science of cooperation which emphasizes co-created projects including the discovery of what is most important for science to address. Though we welcome and hope for systemic change, we give persistent and committed priority to the integrity of personal experience, trusting this can also change systems. However, this potential to “move mountains” does not always benefit professionally or materially the creativity and ethical style of the contemplative scientists and their teams. The space and time often applied for contemplative approaches and the engagement of multiple players from multiple domains may yield different and more sustainable results, in part because of their open-ended nature but also because of the likelihood of outcomes harmonious with the planetary environment and all living things. In light of systems that recognize and reward speedy productivity and competitive behavior, we hope the shared process may bring more systemic support for these individuals and value in their strengths and character.
I recently read the story of settlers’ children captured by native Americans early in Texas history (Zesch, 2005). Many of these captured young people did not want to leave the life of Apache and Comanche Indians. Several reasons were postulated, but one most interesting was the way children were treated. Rather than being pressed to behave and develop in prescribed ways as the early settlers required, children raised by native Americans were praised and rewarded for curiosity, courage, and creativity. The Mindful Researchers hold similar values and desires. Is it possible for us to reorient our systems toward reward for these characteristics rather than what may turn out to be gatekeeper limitations?
As Mindful Researchers we forge onward with optimism, implementing these values in our individual and collaborative processes. Our research interests and domains of study vary widely. We share the interest in contemplative approaches, awareness of embodied processes, and the potentials possible when we work, listen, and learn together. I am motivated by the potential wisdom and ethical strength we may reach by practicing awareness of subtle experience, especially combined with shared processes. My dissertation, for a degree in Psychology and Interdisciplinary Inquiry, was theoretical, exploring the place of subtle levels of consciousness in science from thinkers in different domains. I find our community to be a great way to implement my theoretical background in shared field work. We are engaged in several activities for bringing our dreams and passions to fruition in a contemplative co-creative process.
The current organizing group (the "Gardeners"), open to any member of the larger group "Mindful Researchers," includes me, as well as:
- Annika Lübbert, a cognitive scientist who integrates levels of observation in social interaction research and explores playful, creative, and embodied ways of doing research.
- Enrico Fucci, a PhD in neuroscience focused on how to support or “structure” a rigorous science of openness and integrity.
- Francesco Michele Noera, an anthropologist keen to build co-creative communities.
- Nikola Winter, a PhD in molecular biology searching for answers to the questions “What is life?/What is aliveness?”
- Willeke Rietdijk, a PhD in education exploring the phenomenology of meditation processes.
- Wolfgang Lukas, a PhD in physics dedicated to supporting collaborative science communities and group processes.
Though our personal interests are part of the process, so are the interests of any who join our sessions or events. Our structure is intentionally loose in order to welcome all participants, their interests, knowledge, and insights. Each meeting includes intention, focus, and practice of contemplative embodied awareness and engagement in professional and personal sharing. We are now moving toward more detailed sharing of individual research interests and hope to pursue collective thematic investigations, of what we identify as valuable interdisciplinary research projects. These projects may be carried forward by self-selected researchers and research participants. I consider our 2021 Div. 24 APA symposium, Recognizing and Enhancing Enactive Awareness in Science, Research, and Academia, to be the beginning of such a project. We are continuously exploring the co-creative process in our weekly Gardeners meetings, our Mindful Researcher gatherings, and have also held a three-session workshop for participants in a conference organized by Mind and Life Europe. Perhaps the most essential principle of our process is to remain open and to welcome different ideas and new participants at whatever level they wish to engage.
References
Husserl, E. (1954/1970). The crisis of European sciences and transcendental phenomenology (D. Carr, Trans.) Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press.
Maturana, H. R., & Varela, F. J. (1992). The tree of knowledge: The biological roots of human understanding. Boston: Shambhala.
Rees. Mary G. (2019). The moment of creation: A meta-model for opening to emergent knowing in science (Order No. 27739521). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (2387996628)
Thompson, E. (2007). Mind in life: Biology, phenomenology, and the sciences of mind. Cambridge, MA: Belknap, Harvard University Press.
Varela, F., Thompson, E., & Rosch, E. (1991). The embodied mind: Cognitive science and human experience. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Zesch, S. (2005). The captured. New York: St. Martin's Griffin.
Mary Rees, PhD, a contemplative phenomenologist, is researching and consulting in creativity processes, human potential, and subtle levels of consciousness. Embodied awareness and relational practices are central in her work. She is an independent researcher currently participating in