I would disagree that mindfulness is a meditation technique. Rather, my understanding of it is that it is a state of mind required of and acquired through 'standard' zen or more traditional branches of Buddhist meditation. It could be described as a kind of meta-awareness of where one's concentration is focused and is a necessary step toward and condition of the enlightenment experience.
--Mike On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 11:12 AM, Paul Okami <[email protected]>wrote: > > Mindfulness is not "new agey" although some people who are promoting it for > one reason or another (often financial in nature) may be. > > Mindfulness is a meditation technique first described by the Buddha (Gotama > Siddhartha) in a Pali sutta highly likely to be an accurate record of his > actual teaching (see scholarship on Indian Buddhism). Although the original > teaching included the component of "insight" (seeing the world as it > actually is), modern Western mindfulness meditation techniques generally > focus on a more basic component of Buddhist meditation that fosters relaxed > attention to the moment and reduces judgmntalism. The same sort of clinical > trials which test psychotherapy techniques have been applied to > Mindfulness-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (MBCBT) with good results--if > you believe those sorts of studies. > > Paul Okami > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Michael Britt <[email protected]> > *To:* Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)<[email protected]> > *Sent:* Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:56 PM > *Subject:* [tips] Mindfulness - anything to it? > > > As it turns out, I don't live very far from a well-known, new-agey place > called The Omega Institute. I've thought about interviewing some of the > speakers who come there, but the kinds of workshops they have are often "out > in left field" (you know, energy medicine type of thing) so I haven't. I'm > just curious about this mindfulness thing that seems to be getting popular. > Has anyone heard about it? I hadn't heard that it was "being introduced > into school curriculums" as they say. Here is the description from Omega: > ---------- > Mindfulness<http://links.mkt1808.com/ctt?kn=13&m=33461185&r=Mjc2NjA3NTA0NQS2&b=0&j=NTIwMzYxNTAS1&mt=1&rt=0>, > a meditative technique that fosters inner calm and a sense of well-being, is > being introduced into school curriculums by an innovative group of leaders > in mindfulness practice and education. The results are promising for both > the children and those who work with them. > > During this weekend mindfulness > retreat<http://links.mkt1808.com/ctt?kn=44&m=33461185&r=Mjc2NjA3NTA0NQS2&b=0&j=NTIwMzYxNTAS1&mt=1&rt=0>—for > teachers, administrators, child care providers, family therapists, and > parents—you will experience relief from stress and find emotional balance > for yourself while learning practical ways to teach children mindfulness > techniques that can help them manage the challenges of growing up. > > ------- > > Thoughts on this? > > Michael > > > Michael Britt > [email protected] > www.thepsychfiles.com > > > > > > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > > --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
