Abstract
This chapter examines all major references to mindfulness in the classic Buddhist canonical text, Majjhima Nikāya (MN), and throws light upon the original meaning of unremitting (and largely unconscious because fully internalized) mindfulness as the true foundation of a naturally ethical life. This notion of inherent ethicality is contrasted with the boundary ethics normal in contemporary society. It is suggested that the creation of a modern “utilitarian” mindfulness, accommodated to this latter approach to ethics, has obscured the meaning of mindfulness in its original context. The material analyzed here shows original mindfulness as itself the foundation of ethics, not as an activity in need of an ethical framework.
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Reference
Brazier, D. (2002). The feeling Buddha: A Buddhist psychology of character, adversity and passion. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Griffin.
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Brazier, D. (2018). Mindfulness as Ethical Foundation. In: Stanley, S., Purser, R., Singh, N. (eds) Handbook of Ethical Foundations of Mindfulness. Mindfulness in Behavioral Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76538-9_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76538-9_3
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Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
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Online ISBN: 978-3-319-76538-9
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