Guidelines for Informal Journal Entries

In place of the analytical exercises undertaken by students by those electing the theory-oriented approach, you will use free-from journal writing to record your experience of contemplative practice, and also to process that experience as part of developing your contemplative faculties. This writing will also provide material for one more formal reflection written composed during each unit (see "Schedule of Topics & Readings" for precise dates) as well as at the end of the course (due Friday, May 9th).

Your Task: write in your journal every week on three different days, preferably immediately preceding or following your contemplative practice. Each entry should deal in some way with that practice, including at least one of the following: the intentions you form while sitting, your perceptions of and insights about what unfolds, the obstacles and difficulties you face, the way you deal with such obstacles and difficulties. In addition, every two weeks you should include one entry making a connection with each of the following (not necessarily on the same day):

• your chosen guiding text, perhaps applying some suggestion for approaching practice, noting some advice that has been helpful, or reflecting on some larger issue raised in it; and.

• one of the historical readings assigned for class, focusing on the way that the ideas expressed by the author relate to your contemplative practice. Do not quote passages directly or summarize content extensively unless exact wording or content is essential for your reflections.

Each day’s journal entry should be marked clearly with the date & day of the week.

Criteria for Evaluation: in assigning a point value to your journal entries--a maximum of 5 points for each six entries collected every two weeks--I will consider the consistency, honesty, and courage with which you write, not the literary merit of your prose (though note that honest prose dealing with momentous issues often has high literary merit!). For the most part you should write very freely, letting your inspiration draw you to what interests you most. Even if you think you have nothing to say, sit down and start writing; words will often take shape on the page which you hadn't thought of before. You'll probably find it more convenient to write by hand since this will allow you to have paper with you wherever you do your practice and your reading [footnote 1]. With regards to the specific quantity, in general you should aim for 150-200 words in each entry; but note that quality is more important than quantity. Especially with regards to your own practice, you may sometimes find yourself articulating a deeper insight very succinctly in just a few carefully-worded sentences; in such cases, do not force yourself to write simply to reach the word limit.

Reminders about quantity: 150-200 words x 6 times for each set; deadlines: turned in outside my office door, every two weeks on Monday by 4 pm (see "Schedule of Topics & Readings" for precise dates); and medium:legibly hand-written with name on every page (see footnote 1 regarding typing), kept in a separate folder or binder so that sheets may be easily accessed and separated, and paper-clipped together when submitted to avoid loosing sheets.  With this assignment feel free to ignore formatting and style suggestions prescribed in "Notes on Written Work"--follow the format most comfortable for you.

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[1] If you are a laptop fan, feel free to type. Just don't let the constraints of carrying your machine around hinder you from writing spontaneously. Feel free to write by hand anytime you feel inclined and aren't near the computer. [back to text] .