Running head: CULTURAL IMMERSION 1

Cultural Immersion Paper

Kevin L. Carter
Wilmington University
Cultural Immersion 2

Introduction
I chose people who meditate for my cultural immersion topic because I have been

interested in this spiritual concept, and felt that this would be a good time to delve deeper into

the cultural aspect of this population. I have long had an interest in mediation, and came across

information on mindfulness, connected to Tibetan Buddhism. A few years ago, while living in

Atlanta, GA, I visited the Shambala Meditation center to take a class on how to meditate. This

class dealt with the atmosphere, positioning, breathing techniques, and benefits of meditation,

and I attended a couple of sessions after my initial sitting. I consider people who meditate as a

culture because it is ever growing, and meditation has become a way of life for many people. I

would like to explore who meditates, why, religious affiliation, and benefits that exist in the

community of meditation. A specific type of mediation that I admire is called mindfulness and it

posits that if one can learn to exist in the moment without consideration of what has happened, or

what will happen, and without judgement of the present feelings, they can reach a place of

centeredness, and tranquility.

History

Mindfulness meditation was originally an Eastern religious concept, which has made it

way over time to become a Western science and practice. Mindfulness is not just practices in

religious context, but also in non-religious practice which lends to its cultural relevance.

Mindfulness has its origins in Hinduism, Buddhism, and yoga practices. It is argued that

mindfulness has roots as well in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, but we will be looking at it

from the Hindu, and Buddhist standpoint (Selva, 2017).

Hinduism is known as the oldest extant religion and was an amalgamation of many

religious traditions around the historical region that now makes up India. To this reality
Cultural Immersion 3

Hinduism has no founder, nor a concrete starting point. It was unnamed until British writers felt

the need to label the Vedic traditions in the 1800s as Hinduism. The earliest traditions of

Hinduism date back over 4000 years in the Indus Valley which is now known as Pakistan. The

Vedic writings go back 2,500-3,500 years ago and they include rituals, and the worship of Gods,

common to modern-day Hinduism. Concepts such as Dharma, and temple worship which are

pretty common Hindu practices today appeared 1,500-2,500 years ago. With the rise of Islam,

Hinduism experienced some competition, but the 19th century reformers revitalized Hinduism

were able to tie it to the national identity of India. The success was partially due to middle-class

Indians starting to identify with Hinduism in the 19th century. About 100 years later this

connection was solidified by the Indian Independence Movement (Selva, 2017).

Buddhism as a religion is more well defined as opposed to Hinduism. Buddhism was

founded around 400-500 B.C.E. by Siddhartha Gautama, who was referred to as the Buddha

from then on. Gautama is thought to have been born and raised around modern-day India and

Nepal. Based on where and when Gautama was raised, it is safe to say that many Hinduist

teachings informed his upbringing. The religions share commonalities such as Dharma, which is

hard to define, but deals with a way of life that in in harmony with the natural order of life. They

differ in that Buddhism is in no way concerned with the writings of the Veda, as Hinduism is.

Buddhism is a religion though often thought of a religious philosophy that aims to teach its

followers the path to enlightenment. Buddhism now exists in several traditions: Zen Buddhism,

Theravada Buddhism, and most often today thought of as Tibetan Buddhism, and the Dalai

Lama, an individual who is thought to be an enlightened teacher of Tibetan Buddhism.

Mindfulness is more tightly linked to Buddhism because it is considered the first step to

enlightenment. The Buddhist word sati is often said to be translated mindfulness. The concept of
Cultural Immersion 4

mindfulness is so crucial to the Western practice that most Westerners learn mindfulness

practices from Buddhists teachers (Selva, 2017).

Yoga as a practice is closely linked to Hinduism, and Buddhism, which are two religions

concerned with mindfulness. There are correlations between the practice of yoga and various

aspects of mindfulness, and research has shown that persons who practice yoga regularly are also

high in mindfulness habits, they can often be intertwined:

The researchers found that people who are heavily involved with a yoga practice had

higher levels of mindfulness than people who were only slightly involved with yoga or

who were not involved in a yoga practice (Gaiswinkler & Unterrainer, 2016).

Interestingly enough, while the origins of yoga coincide with the origins of Hinduism, so does

the recent rise of yogas popularity in the West coincide with the rise of mindfulness. This

underscores the intertwined nature of Buddhism, Hinduism, mindfulness, and yoga (Selva,

2017).

The existence of mindfulness in the West is partially due to the efforts of Jon Kabat-Zinn

who founded the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and

the Oasis Institute for Mindfulness-Based Professional Education and Training in it. This is also

where Kabat-Zinn developed his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, an

eight-week program aimed at anyone looking to reduce their levels of stress (as the name

suggests). Kabat-Zinn studied mindfulness under Buddhist teachers such as Thich Nhat Hanh (an

influential and popular figure in Western mindfulness himself). His integration of Eastern

practice with Western Science has helped mindfulness gain wide popularity in the West. This

gave way to other mindfulness-based therapy programs, such as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive

Cultural Immersion 5

Therapy(MBCT), aimed at treating Major Depressive Disorder. Other notable practitioners such

as Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg, and Joseph Goldstein also played a crucial role in bringing

mindfulness to the West when they founded the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in 1975

(Selva, 2017).

Studies have shown that in 2012 8.0% (18 million) adults in America practiced

meditation. In 2012, meditation included Mantra meditation, Mindfulness meditation, Spiritual

meditation, and meditation used as a part of other practices (including yoga, tai chi, and qi gong).

Some forms of meditation instruct the practitioner to become mindful of thoughts, feelings, and

sensations and to observe them in a nonjudgmental way: (examples)

9.5 Yoga

8.4 Chiropractic and Osteopathic manipulation

8.0 Meditation

6.9 Massage therapy (Clark, 2015).

Documentary: On Meditation

In the documentary On Meditation by producer R. Dryfus explores various aspects of

mediation through the eyes of actors, producers, political, business, and artistic personalities.

Each interviewee (10 total) spoke about their personal experience and the challenges and benefits

of meditation in their life, which was very informative. I will highlight just a few of the

experiences offered:

Peter Matthiessen (Actor) Spoke of his difficult upbringing and that he was thrown out

of his house by his father, the bad relationships that he had with his wives, and how in the

seventies in search of a spiritual practice he became a Zen student. He was looking for a path

home from the fears, prejudice that was existent, and saw that Zen Buddhism was ones true
Cultural Immersion 6

nature, where there is no contemplation of folly, no thought, but intuiting, and that every culture

could benefit from pursuing enlightenment, and that we do not acquire wisdom, we drop things

and gain enlightenment from simplicity (Dryfus & Ludwig, 2016).

Giancarlo Esposito (Actor) He stated that he began meditation to heal, and could not

afford therapy initially, and smoking, drinking, and other escapes no longer gave him the relief

that he was seeking. He found relief from a bankrupt, poor, broke, food stamp, and poverty-

stricken consciousness through meditation. He spoke of the brain being a computer, and the

necessity to slow the computer down to get to the heart. He said he had to get to the point where

he could observe his thoughts going by, giggle at them, and release them in an effort to reconnect

to his breath. He can now listen to his breath for hours, which allows him to be more observant,

and connected. He said that he is an actor who becomes fully immersed in his role, and that the

continual practice of mediation allows him to bring that same focus, and openness to his acting,

and when people think that he is acting, his is actually free to be himself, made possible through

the benefits gained via his mediation practice (Dryfus & Ludwig, 2016).

Gabrielle Bernstein (Author, Motivational Speaker) She practices a form of mediation

called Kundalini, she was taught mediation by her mother at 16, but by 25 years of age she was

an addict and co-dependent, and in search of a better way. Her form of meditation is a yoga of

awareness (which makes use of beads), and concentrates on the base of the spine for centering,

aims to raise energy and opens the heart by repeating mantras. In doing so one is able to lose

fears, flow with the mediation, expanding inner awareness and desire to be still to listen to what

comes through instead of thinking of what needs to be said. To combat new addictions

commitment and discipline in mediation practice is necessary (Dryfus & Ludwig, 2016).
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Russell Simmons (Business Magnate) He said that in a world of noisy minds, and

compartmentalizing, sustained blissfulness is possible. He has a daily yoga practice which

improves his being, and brings his life into alignment. Though styles of mediation vary, they

help in settling the nervous system. His practice consists of 2.5 hours every day, and with a very

busy life, it helps him to be more present than not, and improves his creativity as a CEO (Dryfus

& Ludwig, 2016).

Tim Ryan (Congressman, Author) He was facing much self-criticism, and burnout at 35

years of age and needed space and time for contemplation, so he established a daily mediation

practice that improved his life. He then introduced the concept into healthcare in the US, and

helped establish mindfulness mediation training in the armed forces, which has been beneficial,

which also piqued the interest of members of Congress. He said that we continually waist human

resources, and we need to go deeper into fully developing ourselves. He is the author of a book

titled Mindful Nation. He mentioned that one thing that stood out to him about calls made

from the 911 victims (prior to the planes going down) to family members were to say, I love

you, which proves that we are all connected at the deepest levels, and must create a change in

politics, and aid in fostering a stronger move in developing out inner resources (Dryfus &

Ludwig, 2016).

Sharon Stolberg (Author, Mediation Speaker) Sharon had a childhood of insecurity and

instability, due to her mother dying when she was nine, and her father disappearing. By the time

she began college she had lived in 5 different living situations which left her confused,

frightened, and silent. In college as a sophomore she took an Asian philosophy course in

Buddhism which changed her life. She learned how to admit suffering, about compassion, and

was empowered by learning about introspection and discernment. She now practices phrases of
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loving Kindness, and speaks them over the lives of other people (silently), such as may I be

happy and peaceful, may you be happy and peaceful. Mindfulness meditation has made a major

improvement in her life (Dryfus & Ludwig, 2016).

David Lynch (Musician, Producer) his experience involves closing his eyes and diving

within, and experiencing a soft electricity which eases anxiety, and anger. When people become

seekers, they learn that happiness does not lie without, but lies within and the issue is access.

They key to access is mediation, and the happiness is in the doing, there is more freedom, and

the aim is to live in totality. Through meditation, one can unfold the full potential of the human

being. He stated that the arrival at such a place is magical and beautiful (Dryfus & Ludwig,

2016).

Experience

Center for Practical Buddhism located at the First Unitarian Church St. Louis (every

Thursday 6:30pm 8:00pm, 11/9/17). I located the meditation session that I attended for my

direct immersion experience prior to leaving for a convention that I was scheduled to attend in

St. Louis this, the location was about 25 minutes from my hotel. Upon arriving I met a young

lady by the name of Magda (short for Magdalene) who was attending the Sangha (Buddhist

mindfulness mediation) for the first time as well who moved to St. Louis from Chicago. Upon

entering I met the other five people that were in attendance, shoes were left in the fourier and the

room was set up with cushions, pillows chairs, and kneeling stools set in a large circle. I noticed

that coffee was brewing, and participants had contributed cookies, and snacks. People slowly

came is for the 6:30pm start time. I chose a chair in the circle and introduced myself to Dan who

was seated on the cushion next to me, and we asked each other questions about this being my

first time visiting, and that he was a regular attendee, but had not been their recently, I asked him
Cultural Immersion 9

how long he had been meditating altogether, and he said about 3 years total. The room slowly

filled to the point where some attendees had to grab additional cushions and pillows to

participate, and the circle became larger. In attendance was a total of 21 persons including

myself.

The instructors name was Kim and she called the session to order and gave instructions

on what was to take place during the session. A person was designated to hit a small bell which

was to signal changes in the activities, he was seated next to Kim. She gave brief instructions on

various positions for sitting, how to position your hands, how to center your body, and what

direction we would sit during the different phases of the session. We started by standing and

positioning our hands together with palms together in praying formation, and we all bowed to the

Buddha statue, and then turned around and bowed to each other signaling respect, and then she

lit an incent, and performed a ritual over the Buddha, and then fanned the incent to cover the

room. We then bowed again, and then turned our cushions, and chairs around to face away from

each other for the actual meditation sessions, the initial one lasted 10 minutes and was signaled

and sustained by a ringing of a large bell that the instructor had, and was also a point of

concentration in case the mind wondered while practicing mindfulness. She also said that while

meditating if the mind was to wonder to use concentrating on your breathing, or the touching of

your thumbs, or thumb and finger depending on how you position your hands for the session.

The initial meditation lasted for 10 minutes, and then for the next 30 minutes it was totally silent

for the main mindfulness meditation experience.

The practice of mindfulness meditation is not easy, and takes practice, consistency, and

focus. It took the whole 10 minutes and then some for me to settle my mind to the point of

existing in the moment, and I realized exactly when my body and mind settled, and I was able to
Cultural Immersion 10

just be. I tried to concentrate on my breathing which worked to a certain degree, but I kept

finding that I was concerning myself with what I had to do later that evening, and for class. I

began accepting that I was having these thoughts and that there was nothing wrong with it, and

releasing the judgment, which allowed me to finally settle into the being state. The full

experience lasted for forty minutes, broken into 10, and 30-minute sessions. Once the meditation

segments were finished the bell was struck again, and everyone turned their chairs, and cushions

back facing the circle. A discussion was then begun which was opened by reading of saying from

the Dharma by the instructor, and the topic (since we are in Thanksgiving season) had to do with

friendship, and gratefulness. The discussion was then opened for discussion to the floor with the

direction that everyone should introduced themselves prior to commenting (which most people

did).

I learned that the participants in the room was very culturally diverse, I was the only

African American person in attendance, there were a few Caucasians, a couple of Indian people,

a man which sounded like he might have been Russian, and a fare balance of men and women.

There seemed to be a good age range as well. Some of the names of the participants were Kim,

Magda, Dan, Rita, Darryl, Dane, Aaron, and David. I remember these names because they were a

few of the persons who joined in on the conversation. I realized that a large number of

participants are practicing Buddhist, so their contribution to the conversation included what they

have learned through practice, which was enlightening. Various viewpoints were expressed, and

the practice of mindfulness was intertwined into how to be a good friend, as well as the qualities

of a good friend. People talked about fears, reciprocity, co-dependency, and how to let go of ego,

and expectation. This part closed out with some final words for Kim, and then they gave

announcements about up-coming events like the meditation hike, which is a 3-hour hike that is
Cultural Immersion 11

done in silence. The experience was very enjoyable, and afterwards people stayed around

socialized.

Ethics
For the ethics of the National Organization of Human Services I chose 14 of the 46

Standards that they list as ethical standards, which relate in some way to how mindfulness

practice, and self-awareness connect to the human service career field for practitioners:

Responsibility to Clients

STANDARD 1 Human service professionals recognize and build on client and community

strengths.

STANDARD 2 Human service professionals obtain informed consent to provide services to

clients at the beginning of the helping relationship. Clients should be informed that they may

withdraw consent at any time except where denied by court order and should be able to ask

questions before agreeing to the services. Clients who are unable to give consent should have

those who are legally able to give consent for them review an informed consent statement and

provide appropriate consent.

Responsibility to the Public and Society

STANDARD 11 Human service professionals are knowledgeable about their cultures and

communities within which they practice. They are aware of multiculturalism in society and its

impact on the community as well as individuals within the community. They respect the cultures

and beliefs of individuals and groups.

STANDARD 15 Human service professionals provide a mechanism for identifying client needs

and assets, calling attention to these needs and assets, and assisting in planning and mobilizing to

advocate for those needs at the individual, community, and societal level when appropriate to the

goals of the relationship.

Cultural Immersion 12

Responsibility to Colleagues

STANDARD 21 Human service professionals respond appropriately to unethical and

problematic behavior of colleagues. Usually this means initially talking directly with the

colleague and if no satisfactory resolution is achieved, reporting the colleague's behavior to

supervisory or administrative staff.

STANDARD 22 All consultations between human service professionals are kept private, unless

to do so would result in harm to clients or communities.

Responsibility to Employers

STANDARD 24 Human service professionals participate in efforts to establish and maintain

employment conditions which are conducive to high quality client services. Whenever possible,

they assist in evaluating the effectiveness of the agency through reliable and valid assessment

measures.

STANDARD 25 When a conflict arises between fulfilling the responsibility to the employer and

the responsibility to the client, human service professionals work with all involved to manage the

conflict.

Responsibility to the Profession

STANDARD 30 Human service professionals promote the continuing development of their

profession. They encourage membership in professional associations, support research

endeavors, foster educational advancement, advocate for appropriate legislative actions, and

participate in other related professional activities.

STANDARD 31 Human service professionals continually seek out new and effective approaches

to enhance their professional abilities and use techniques that are conceptually, or evidence
Cultural Immersion 13

based. When practicing techniques that are experimental or new, they inform clients of the status

of such techniques as well as the possible risks.

Responsibility to Self

STANDARD 34 Human service professionals are aware of their own cultural backgrounds,

beliefs, values, and biases. They recognize the potential impact of their backgrounds on their

relationships with others and work diligently to provide culturally competent service to all of

their clients.

STANDARD 35 Human service professionals strive to develop and maintain healthy personal

growth to ensure that they are capable of giving optimal services to clients. When they find that

they are physically, emotionally, psychologically, or otherwise not able to offer such services,

they identify alternative services for clients.

Responsibility to Students

STANDARD 37 Human service educators develop and implement culturally sensitive

knowledge, awareness, and teaching methodologies.

STANDARD 38 Human service educators are committed to the principles of access and

inclusion and take all available and applicable steps to make education available to differently-

abled students (NOHS, 2015).

Agency Assessment Report:

Address: H. Fletcher Brown Boys and Girls Club 1601 N. Spruce Street Wilmington, DE

19802

I do not see an instance in which the agency that I am fulfilling my internship can really

assist this population, but I can see where practices of the mindfulness mediation culture can help

people via my agency. I believe that including programs that teach yoga, meditation, and stress
Cultural Immersion 14

management can be beneficial to the urban community that is serviced by the Boys and Girls

Club organization. With mindfulness mediation becoming a widely practiced concept in the

West, undertaking programs that offer these forms of practices can benefit individual as well as

communities on a larger scale.

Establishing programs for staff members at the Boys and Girls Club could prove

beneficial for dealing with daily concerns associated with the work environment such as noted by

Russell Simmons from the movie On Meditation since mindfulness practice helps one to be

clearer, and per Simmons opens up one to being more creative, and can assist one in leading

from a clearer perspective. As far as dealing with the serviced population, parents and children, I

can see were the staff learning mindfulness could benefit the relationship development necessary

for navigating these areas. If programming were offered to teach parents and children the

practice of mindfulness mediation this could prove beneficial because if teaches people a new

way of approaching life, it builds self-awareness, and strengthens coping skills, which is needed

in the local community.

Agencys Community

The feel of the neighborhood can be a little off-putting since it is in the heart of the city,

and there is some abandoned building right next to the Boys and Girls Club location. It is a

heavily residential area, but the surrounding streets are full of row homes, and quite a few are

vacant. The population that resides in the surrounding area are low-income families, many of the

children who attend the club parents qualify for Purchase of Care (POC) subsidies which is a

program that helps low-income families pay for their child care. For the teen program there is a

$15.00 annual fee charged for each teen, that is usually paid for by a grant provided to the Boys

and Girls Club. In the local community there is a High School, a few childcare agencies, another
Cultural Immersion 15

youth after school program located a block from the club, a few liquor stores, a community

center, the electric company, a few churches, many corner stores, and 3 social services agencies.

I have no way of knowing if people from my selected population work for the Boys and Girls

Club.

Image retrieved from:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wilmington,+DE+19802/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c6fd32af9a63f3:0xeb75012ed0e448bc?sa=X&ved=0ahU
KEwj89cPVn5TWAhUF5YMKHR-wBd0Q8gEIJTAA

Access

People who make use of the services offered by the Boys and Girls Clun access the

location via car, DART bus, and vans that the Boys and Girls Club own and use to pick students

up. The club services the local community only as far as their programming goes, so the persons

do not cross ethnic or cultural boundaries to reach the agency. There are programs that are

housed out of the club by other agencies that are a little more diversified, so they cross some of

the cultural boundaries noted. Information about club is disseminated via the Boys and Girls

Club of Delawares main website, and by way of flyers, and a Facebook page.
Cultural Immersion 16

Receptivity

I feel that the atmosphere of the club is welcoming, and great effort has been made

recently by the new leadership to make the club more welcoming. I feel comfortable in the

environment, and feel as though the persons who make use of the facilities feel welcomed as

well. If I was part of the population that I chose to study, I would feel that the environment is

conducive for others and my population, and would be interested in facilitating a meditation

programs in the club. The language in which everything is written is understandable, and would

be for members of the population studied.

Administration and Staff Training

At this point there is not staff training in place centered around cultural competence, or

diversity. I believe that the Boys and Girls Club could greatly benefit, just as any other

organization would from this type of training. This is an area that I will ask questions about

possibly including this type of sensitivity training, especially since the club deals mainly with

young people. I do not know if any of the current employees are part of the population that I

chose to study, but I doubt it.

Finding

I have not read anywhere if there is funding provided for culturally specific programing,

and from that programs that I have investigated, I have seen no distinction made.

Staff Sensitivity

I feel as though from my observation that the staff is culturally sensitive for the most part.

I did witness a conversation that was being spearheaded by a youth member about another youth

in the program who was gay, and even though negative comments were being made the staff

members involved did not try and foster inclusivity, but goaded the negative comments that were
Cultural Immersion 17

being made. I believe that training in this area might make the necessity of accepting diversity,

and inclusivity more the norm.

Agency Programs and Services

Effort

N/A

Quality

N/A

Effectiveness

N/A

Efficiency

N/A

Conclusion
This project helped me get a better understanding of the benefits of practicing

mindfulness mediation, and how it is growing in popularity in the West. I now know that it has

roots in Hindu, and Buddhist religions (amongst other religious influences). In a world where

stress, anxiety, worry, violence, and discord has become the norm, the practice of mindfulness

mediation can and has benefited many by teaching them how to become centered and learn to

exist in the moment. So many times, what causes imbalance in our live is a preoccupation with

the past, and the future, and mindfulness teaches how to exist in the present moment, without

judgement, and concern for what else exists. It allows a person to accept what is as reality, and

not have to label it as good or bad, right or wrong. This practice can be undertaken by anyone, it

is not reserved for person who are religious, and has a secular following as well.

Both, my experience at the Center for Practical Buddhism, and the documentary On

Meditation opened my eyes as to the necessity of committed practice, and the benefits of
Cultural Immersion 18

practicing mindfulness mediation. The people who attended the mediation session came from

various backgrounds, age groups, professional concentrations, and religious (or on-religious)

considerations, and were able to unite in a room to accomplish a common goal individually, and

were able to come together collectively at the end and discuss their aspects of enlightenment, so

that everyone could walk away with something substantial. This was beneficial for me because I

was able to experience it personally. I appreciated the documentary since it was individual

persons reporting on their personal experience with mindfulness mediation, and an expression of

what brought them to mediation, and how it has benefitted them.

Cultural Immersion 19

References

Clarke TC, Black LI, Stussman BJ, Barnes PM, Nahin RL. Trends in the use of complementary

health approaches among adults: United States, 20022012. National health statistics

reports; no 79. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2015.

Dryfus, R. (Director), Ludwig, S, (Producer). (2016). On Meditation.

United States: Netflix.

NOHS (2015). Ethical standards for human service professionals. Retrieved from

http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/ethical-standards-for-hs-professionals

Selva, J. (2017). History of Mindfulness: From East to West and From Religion to Science.

Retrieved from https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/history-of-mindfulness/