"I have had substantial interest in meditation and what role it might play in the academy," said Zajonc. "This does not promote religious activity on campus, but instead, expands on new ways of knowing by using contemplative techniques that are traditionally religious."
One of Zajonc's goals is to promote the value of meditation as a solution to stress and anxiety.
"I believe that all good scholars and teachers can take up the modality of inquiry and use it in their teachings," said Zajonc.
President Tom Gerety expressed guarded interest in Zajonc's activities. "I welcome the discussion," he said. "I don't know where it will lead."
"It would be a wonderful thing if students expressed interest in this area, both for personal benefit and academically," said Zajonc.
Ali Abate '04 said that she began to learn mediation techniques last summer. She studied a specific technique, reiki, which she continues to practice and share with her friends. "Reiki is a hands-on healing method of meditation. It can relieve stress and even relieve physical pain," Abate said.
Zajonc said that he was enthusiastic about a professor-led Zen meditation group for students that used to exist at the College. He expressed regret that the group was cut because of budgetary constraints.
Working closely with former UMass-Amherst Chancellor David K. Scott and Smith College Professor of Anthropology Frederique Apffel-Marglin, Zajonc has been active in developing contemplative issues at the five colleges.
Zajonc has helped to organize three events that were made possible by a grant from New York's Nathan Cummings Foundation.
Over 1,000 students, faculty and staff attended the first event, which took place in March of 2001 and involved a full day of lectures and other activities designed to teach about meditation.
UMass Professor of Medicine John Kabat-Zinn gave a faculty-staff meditation workshop the next day at UMass-Worcester, which was attended by 300 people.
The most recent event took place during Interterm when Kabat-Zinn returned to Amherst to hold a three day intensive meditation conference at the College. Roughly 50 faculty and staff members gathered at the symposium to talk about the place of contemplative meditation in the modern university.
Currently, Zajonc is working to create the Community for Integrated Learning and Action, which is designed to improve student and faculty life as well as to give support to staff members in the five college system. He is also in the midst of planning an invitational research symposium to discuss various issues regarding contemplative awareness and mental health.
Zajonc's work in this field outside of the five colleges is substantial. He has written several papers and has worked closely with the Dalai Lama on three occasions.