2025 (Current Year) Special graduate degree programs Specially Offered Degree Programs for Graduate Students Tokyo Tech Academy for Leadership
Mindfulness for Leadership
- Academic unit or major
- Tokyo Tech Academy for Leadership
- Instructor(s)
- Tamio Nakano
- Class Format
- Exercise
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- TAL.L443
- Number of credits
- 010
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Apr 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In this course we will practice and understand the foundation of "mindfulness". We cultivate the attitude of being aware of here and now without any judgement in these busy days. We aim to raise "compassion" for myself and others in this inter-dependent world, and to apply the learning into each student's life, research, and leadership.
Course description and aims
Through the practice of mindfulness to be aware of this moment as it is, students deepen their self awareness.
Students can apply mindful attitude into the daily life activity such as breathing, eating, walking, listening, and talk.
Students can nurture self compassion and alturism in this inter-dependent world.
Student learning outcomes
実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)
After my spiritual journey in youth, I got a job in an advertising company and survive over 30 years in business healthy and peacefully. Mindfulness is very useful and helpful in busy world. In 1995 I worked for the mindful project which invited Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the leaders of mindfulness. Since then I have practiced and applied mindfulness to various workshops and education. It cultivate the attitude of "spending assumption," which is necessary for creative dialogue. We will learn these essence through experiential practice.
Keywords
mindfulness, self-awareness, self care, compassion, altruism, servant leadership
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The class will be experiential for body and mind. Please come wearing clothes that are easy to move.
To study theoretical background, we will read well selected text as homework or in the class.
Students learn and deepen each other by sharing their challenge to apply for the daily life.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Orientation: why mindfulness for leadership. The basic practice of mindfulness. Attunement of body, breath, and mind. | Reflection and practice. Reading the provided text. |
| Class 2 | Yoga：Practice for feeling body and mind from inside. | Reflection and practice. Reading the provided text. |
| Class 3 | Application of mindfulness for daily life: Practice of eating, walking, and singing meditation. | Reflection and practice.Reading the provided text. |
| Class 4 | Practice of mindful listening and talking. Reading the text of Thich Nhat Hanh and others. | Reflection and practice. |
| Class 5 | Understanding of inter-dependent and inter-connected nature of all beings. Toward compassion for self and others. | Reflection and practice. |
| Class 6 | Introduction to Joan Halifax Roshi. Overview of GRACE program. Compassion: action beyond empathy. | Reflection and practice. |
| Class 7 | Mindfulness must be engaged. Group share work to reflect the whole class. | Reflection and practice. Final report writing. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
Textbook(s)
Not required (necessary materials will be distributed in class)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Peace is every step: The path of mindfulness in everyday life. Thich Nhat Hanh, 1991
Search Inside Yourself: The unexpected path to achieving success, happiness and world peace. Chade-Meng Tan, 2012
Standing at the edge. Joan Halifax, 2019
Evaluation methods and criteria
Active participation in class (including assignments, exercise, practice into daily life, group work, feedback responses): 70%
Final reports: 30%
Related courses
- TAL.L442 ： Graduate Seminar in Liberal Arts
Prerequisites
Students are expected to have sincere interest in such issues related healthy and peaceful body and mind of themselves, as well as those of others and society, and the leadership for collaboration and co-creation in the age for sustainability. I hope active participation of the students who intend to learn mindfulness by practice in this opportunity.
Other
Especially for the students who is very busy, with a lot of concerns, and have ambition for the better world.
People outside of ToTAL will be welcomed.