Abstract
From its venerable Buddhist roots, mindfulness training (MT) has spread rapidly across the globe in the past few decades due to its strong salutary claim, i.e., the notion that meditation practice is an efficacious means for self-improvement. However, concerns have arisen that the appropriation of MT techniques from classical Buddhist tradition into modern secular practice has diluted the benefits of these practices. The “great danger” to the movement is that inadequately adapted MT techniques, combined with unreasonable inflation of expectations regarding MT’s benefits, may undermine MT’s true potential to effect positive change in the world. And yet, these concerns can be mitigated by consideration of the salutary claim as a persistent “quality check” on MT efficacy. It is argued that scientific investigation can take an important role in delineating the necessary characteristics for fulfilling mindfulness’ salutary claim, as well as identifying contraindicated techniques and risk factors for training. By accepting that we cannot control the spread of MT into commercial domains, researchers may still work to distinguish “right” from “wrong” mindfulness through empirical study. In this way, modern science may help to realize the salutary claim and even contribute to classical Buddhist conceptions of mindfulness, advancing our understanding of how best to promote well-being.
Highlights
The ancient Buddhist practice of mindfulness has become a global phenomenon
In my experience as an Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) facilitator, participants often remark on the relative ease with which they meditate in a group compared to doing homework meditations on their own, and many participants emphasize the feeling of community that is formed at the end of modern secular mindfulness training (MSMT) programs
As in all health-promotion interventions, there is an element of risk; researchers may help to at least popularize the notion that mindfulness is not without potential side effects, so that companies seeking to profit on the further dissemination of MSMT go into the enterprise with awareness and culpability for the risks that they introduce to their clients
Summary
The ancient Buddhist practice of mindfulness has become a global phenomenon. Buoyed by unprecedented growth in mindfulness research over the past decade [1], mindfulness’ benefits have been touted in the popular media as the great trend in self-help technology. This paper presents the more optimistic view, suggesting that modern secular mindfulness training (MSMT) will advance Buddhist ideals despite its increasingly commercialized nature. This is not to say that MSMT will provide a complete transmission of classical mindfulness teachings, but rather that it will help to realize early steps on this path, bringing Western culture more in line with Buddhist ideals. Confidence in MSMT’s promise is founded on the observation that its popularization is inherently predicated on a salutary claim, i.e., MSMT’s purported ability reduce stress and promote resilience in its practitioners Long as this claim is central to MSMT, and scientific research supports this claim by delineating the criteria for effective training, there will continue to be substantive progress in the understanding and proliferation of MSMT. Tenets of each tradition’s long-held psychological theories, it may enrich our ability to promote human flourishing by moving us beyond the limits inherent to each of these perspectives
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
