A rush to slow down
By Jennifer Drader
May 13, 2004 9:00 p.m.
The new Fiat Lux freshman seminar “Zen and Art of
Cooperation: Buddhist Approaches to Peacemaking” requires
students to take a break from class work. Taught by sociology
Associate Professor Peter Kollock, the class invites students to
slow down and practice zen. In the class summary, Pollock writes,
“This seminar examines Zen Buddhism, not in the context of
religion, but as a system of social psychology that has evolved
over 2,500 years. We will examine Zen Buddhist practices for
developing cooperation and peace in one’s self, one’s
relationships, and the larger society.” An important focus of
the class is for students to experience the practice of zen at a
Buddhist monastery. From April 30 to May 2, the class went on a
weekend retreat to Dear Park Monastery in Escondido.
