A summary of Chapter 4: Mindful Listening

1. Chapter 4: Mindful Listening Summary
Section #1: What is Privilege?

2. Section #2: Undoing Systems of Power and Privilege

3. Section #3: Common Student Responses to Oppression

5. Section #4: How Privilege Harms

6. Section #5: Mindfully Interrupting Privilege

8. Section #6: Mindful Listening

9. Discussion Questions:
1. Berila states on page 98 that “The cost to our humanity far outweighs the advantages we receive from
our various privileges. To live our privileges means internalizing a dehumanizing sense of others and a
false superiority for our own groups that rings hollow over time.” (Berila, 2015).
Look at the steps to Mindfully Interrupting Privilege in the infographic above (section #5). Have you
ever had to interrupt your privilege? If so, why? What caused the interruption? If you have not had to
interrupt privilege yet, why not? Which step do you currently find yourself on? Regardless of whether
you are on a step or not, how can you proactively incorporate these steps into your present or future
mindful listening practice?
2. Berila says on page 92 that “When people begin to truly see the extent of their privilege, they often feel
overwhelming guilt and shame, stemming, in part, from the conflict between their growing recognition
of their privilege in systems of power and their desire to believe they are good people.” (Berila, 2015).
If you have experienced the benefits of privilege in your life thus far, when did you begin to see its
extent? What were your initial thoughts and/or emotions about the privilege you experience(d)? What
are your thoughts and/or emotions about the privilege you experience(d) after reading through the
chapter this week and how do they compare?
If you have not experienced the benefits of privilege in your life thus far, when did you begin to see the
extent of the privilege of others? What were your initial thoughts and/or emotions about the privilege
others experience(d)? What are your thoughts and/or emotions about the privilege others are
experiencing after reading through the chapter this week and how do they compare?
Optional but recommended viewing:
● Thich Nhat Hanh’s interview with Oprah Winfrey on “Compassionate Listening” (about 3 minutes long):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyUxYflkhzo
References:
Berila, B. (2015, August 26). Integrating Mindfulness into Anti-Oppression Pedagogy: Social Justice in Higher
Education (1st ed.). Routledge.