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AAM/AWA FAMILY PICNIC - July 14, 2007 at ELVER PARK

AFRICA FEST 2007 - AUGUST 11, 2007 at WARNER PARK

Join African Association of Madison, Inc. for $25 per year:Oct - Sept.

Mail check to: AAM, PO Box 1016, Madison, WI 53701
Phone: 608-258-0261 -- Email: [log in to unmask]
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VERA R CROWELL <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 
Why are these religious practices allowed in the school?
<http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/16/us/16mindful.html>

Vera,

Note the following from the NYTimes article:
"The techniques, among them focused breathing and concentrating on a single object, are loosely adapted from the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, the molecular biologist who pioneered the secular use of mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts in 1979 to help medical patients cope with chronic pain, anxiety and depression."

If students were being asked to concentrate on a god or a religious doctrine, I would argue that it is a violation of "separation between church and state" but this is a *secular* version of a practice that is used in Tibet. Even though people sing in church, there is no ban on singing in school. Heaven help us if "mindfulness" becomes the sole domain of religion.

Best,
Anita

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Anita H. Makuluni * Madison, WI * [log in to unmask]

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