When practitioners of mindfulness are better at distinguishing wholesome states of mind from harmful conditions, they can engage in purposeful action that nurtures more wholesome qualities. Greater mindfulness leads to a clearer comprehension of the nature of those arising phenomena and interprets them as transient experiences until this process becomes direct insight ( vipassana ) and wisdom ( panna ). Mindfulness practices help reduce craving and aversion by allowing the practitioner to understand the selfless nature of all objective and subjective phenomena. While the concept of ‘sati’ originally meant ‘memory,’ it is believed that the Buddha altered its meaning for his teachings to reflect ‘ lucid awareness ’ of the phenomenal field or the impermanence of all bodily and mental experiences. 13 This practice derives from ‘sati’ (mindfulness) and ‘sampajanna’ (clear comprehension). Mindfulness is the focus of the practice of satipatthana. This sentiment has been captured by Nyanaponika Thera, who described mindfulness as “the clear and single-minded awareness of what actually happens to us and in us at the successive moments of perception.” 11 (p5) Thich Nhat Hanh has similarly characterized mindfulness as “keeping one’s consciousness alive to the present reality.” 12(p11) Buddhist scholars remind us that mindfulness practice includes motivation, goals, and often an ethical framework to live one’s life. Mindfulness, as it is described by Buddhist teachers, goes beyond simple practices and techniques.įor Buddhist practitioners, mindfulness might entail a commitment to a way of living and a general orientation toward experiences.

9, 10 Examining these original Buddhist sources provides the basis for understanding whether our contemporary approaches align with original theoretical accounts. Mindfulness has been considered the heart of Buddhist meditation, 8 however Buddhist scholars point to a rich history of debate that concludes that there is no single authoritative account of mindfulness. Mindfulness was first introduced in its clinical capacity by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, who drew on Zen Buddhist teachings and applied them in a secular, clinical context. 6 While these diverse, yet converging conceptualizations of mindfulness attempt to convey mindfulness as a universal human capacity that transcends any single culture, philosophy, or religion, 3 most clinical adaptations of mindfulness have drawn from Buddhist techniques and theories. However, many spiritual traditions, psychological, and Western philosophical schools of thought also describe its phenomenological nature. Mindfulness as a concept rooted in Buddhist origins goes back 2,500 years. 4 Broadly, the construct of mindfulness has been used to refer to a mental trait or phenomenological state, a spiritual path that reduces suffering and promotes wellness, and as a cognitive process that is capable of being enhanced through training. While mindfulness is understood as both a process (mindful practice) and an outcome (mindful awareness), 3 important differences are amplified by the various approaches that seek to cultivate mindfulness. These varying theoretical considerations will then be linked to contemporary Buddhist and modern scientific accounts of mindfulness. This article will explore how early Buddhist conceptualizations of mindfulness led to varying theoretical accounts that consider how ethics, concentration, and insight align with the concept of mindfulness. Rather than proposing a single definition, mindfulness might be better understood in relation to the phenomenology of the various contemplative traditions and practices that intend to develop mindfulness. However, this secularized perspective might critically overlook elements that contribute to the potentially transformative effects of mindfulness practice that first emerged beyond the context of medicine, psychology, and neuroscience. 2 Framing mindfulness in a scientific context compatible to clinical medicine and psychology is helpful in that it can be communicated directly to patients, healthcare providers, and researchers. Part of this challenge is that the concept of mindfulness is compatible with multiple explanatory frameworks from various disciplines such as contemplative theories, 1 clinical, and neuroscientific frameworks. With the increased interest in mindfulness research, there remains a practical and theoretical need to establish a testable, operational definition of mindfulness.

Define mindful