During this talk, reference was made to the April 2018 National Geographic Magazine dedicated to addressing racial bias. The talk occurred on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Two contemporary social science concepts were discussed: negativity bias and confirmation bias. Using the Four Noble Truths model, negativity bias was related to dukkha regarding aversion and ill-will, a manifestation of craving, and confirmation bias as the cognitive distortion of prejudice as a form of clinging. Prejudice was described in many forms: racism, homophobia, religious conflict, and even biased attitudes towards any group or person determined to be “different” culturally. Practicing the different elements of the Noble Eightfold Path were suggested as remedies for prejudicial views and actions.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Mindfulness and Prejudice
Next week’s talk will begin an ongoing series of explorations of the Satipatthana Sutta, translated as the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, which is a core teaching of Buddhist doctrine and meditative practices.
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