BLI director, Ram Mahalingam, developed a mindful mindset framework drawing from Buddhism, critical intersectionality theory and social justice perspective. Mindful mindset refers to a worldview that our lives are interconnected at the intersectional and phenomenological levels and that our identities are fluid, intersectional and interdependent. Mindful mindset has seven features: (a) compassion; (b) sympathetic joy; (c) critical intersectional awareness; (d) negative capability; (e) cultural humility; (f) wonder; and (g) generosity.
Generosity
Our ability to help while keeping the self-worth of the recipient of our kindness intact.
Sympathetic joy
Our capacity to rejoice with the happiness of others.
Cultural humility
A lifelong learning process of self-reflection and self-critique whereby the individual not only learns about another’s culture, but one starts with an examination of her/his own beliefs and cultural identities.
Wonder
A key ingredient in the revitalization of our life goals and aspirations; to experience the miracle of seeing something miraculous in the familiar.
Situated intersectional awareness
Social categories intersect with each other in complex ways which offer possibilities for identifying similarities and coalition forming across seemingly different categories.
Compassion
Our capacity to understand the suffering of others and act upon it.
Negative capability
Our ability to reside in a situation with an open mind and to experience the sensations, feelings and emotions even when they are uncomfortable.
