The purpose of this interpretivist case study was to examine the experiences of college students in a drop-in, mindfulness class in the Kadampa Buddhist tradition. The class was provided through a collaboration between a student-led club and local Buddhist monastics. Data was collected at a mid-size public university through participant observation and seven individual semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed through thematic coding and crystallization. Major themes that resulted from the research included a comfortable atmosphere, the role of compassion, the importance of spiritually, and the short-term versus long-term impact of mindfulness. Implications of the research for students and administrators will be discussed, and participants will be encouraged to provide feedback for future research.
