Abstract
This paper explores secular mindfulness approaches (MBSR/MBCT) from the standpoint of Buddhist mindfulness practice. Secular mindfulness is presented in a format that is accessible to far more Westerners than a traditional Buddhist approach is likely to be and has already been of considerable benefit to many people. However, the paper questions whether the translation of a Buddhist-derived practice into a secular format has also resulted in some serious losses—specifically, the loss of the meaning of some practices and exercises, and ultimately, the capacity to deeply liberate from suffering. The heavy emphasis placed in secular mindfulness on acceptance and meditation is questioned, as are some of the possible results—namely an approach that reinforces individualism and which can be used as a value-free technique to enhance performance and productivity. Recommendations are made for ways in which the integrity of the secular mindfulness approach could be maintained without sacrificing accessibility.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amaro, A. (2012). Small boat, great mountain: Theravadan reflections on the natural great perfection. Great Gaddesden: Amaravati Publications.
Analayo. (2003). Satipatthana: the direct path to realization. Cambridge: Wind Horse.
Bodhi, B. (2000). Abhidhammattha Sangaha: comprehensive manual of Abhidhamma. Onalaska: BPS Pariyatti editions.
Boellinghaus, I., Jones, F. W., & Hutton, J. (2013). Cultivating self-care and compassion in psychological therapists in training: the experience of loving-kindness meditation. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, online publication. doi:10.1037/a0033092.
Buchanan, K. E., & Bardi, A. (2010). Acts of kindness and acts of novelty affect life satisfaction. Journal of Social Psychology, 150(3), 235–237. doi:10.1080/00224540903365554.
Burch, V. (2008). Living well with pain and illness: the mindful way to free yourself from suffering. London: Piatkus.
Chodron, P. (2010). Taking the leap: freeing ourselves from old habits and fears. Boston: Shambhala.
Dalai Lama, H. H. (2000). Dzogchen: the heart essence of the great perfection. Ithaca: Snow Lion.
Dilgo Khyentse, H. H. (2007). The heart of compassion: the thirty-seven verses on the practice of a Bodhisattva. London: Shambhala.
Dunn, E. W., Aknin, L. B., & Norton, M. I. (2008). Spending money on others promotes happiness. Science, 319(5870), 1687–1688.
NHS England (2013). Compassion in practice: one year on. Downloaded on 8th June 2014 from http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/comp-pract-1yr-on.pdf.
Feldman, C. (2005). Compassion: listening to the cries of the world. Berkeley: Rodmell Press.
Fischer, N. (2008). Sailing home: using the wisdom of Homer’s Odyssey to navigate life’s perils and pitfalls. New York: Free Press.
Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffrey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(5), 1045–1062.
Germer, C.K., Siegel, R.D., & Fulton, P.R. (2005). (Eds.) Mindfulness and psychotherapy. New York: The Guildford Press
Gethin, R. (1998). The foundations of Buddhism. Oxford: OUP.
Gilbert, P. (2009). Introducing compassion-focused therapy. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 15, 199–208.
Grabovac, A. D., Lau, M. A., & Willett, B. R. (2011). Mechanisms of mindfulness: a Buddhist psychological model. Mindfulness, 2, 154–166. doi:10.1007/s12671-011-0054-5.
Hutcherson, C. A., Seppala, E. M., & Gross, J. J. (2008). Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. Emotion, 8, 720–724.
Access to Insight (2013a). Samyuatta Nikaya: the grouped discourses. Downloaded on 8 January 2014 from http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitika/sn/index.html.
Access to Insight (2013b). Anguttara Nikaya: the further factored discourses. Downloaded on 8 January 2014 from http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitika/an/index.html.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living: using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain and illness. New York: Delta.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Some reflections on the origins of MBSR, skilful means, and the trouble with maps. In M. G. Williams & J. Kabat-Zinn (Eds.), Mindfulness: diverse perspectives on its meaning, origins and applications. Abingdon: Routledge.
Kaklauskas, F.J., Nimanheminda, S., Hoffman, L. & Jack, M.S. (2008). Brilliant sanity: Buddhist approaches to psychotherapy. Colorado: University of the Rockies press
Lampe, M., & Engleman-Lampe, C. (2012). Mindfulness-based business ethics education. Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 16(3), 99–111.
Low, J. (2004). Being right here: a Dzogchen treasure text of Nuden Dorje entitled mirror of clear meaning. Ithaca: Snow Lion.
Marturano, J. (2014). Finding the space to lead: a practical guide to mindful leadership. New York: Bloomsbury Press.
Nauriyal, D.K. Drummond, M.S. & Lal, Y.B. (2006). Buddhist thought and applied psychological research. London: Routledge.
Norbu, C. N. (2006). Dzogchen teachings. Ithaca: Snow Lion.
Oliver, M. (1986). Dream work. New York: The Atlantic Monthly Press.
Pace, T. W. W., Negi, L. T., Adame, D. D., Cole, S. P., Sivilli, T. I., Brown, T. D., Issa, M. J., & Raison, C. L. (2009). Effect of compassion meditation on neuroendocrine, innate immune and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 34(1), 87–98. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.08.011.
Padmakara Translation group. (1997). The way of the Bodhisattva. Boston: Shambhala.
Purser, R. and Loy, D. (2013). Beyond McMindfulness. Huffington Post, posted 1/7/13 on http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ron-purser/beyond-cmindfulness_b_3519289.html
Rynes, S. L., Bartunek, J. M., Dutton, J. E., & Margolis, J. D. (2012). Care and compassion through an organizational lens: opening up new possibilities. Academy of Management Review, 37(4), 503–523. doi:10.5465/amr.2012.0124.
Safran, J. (2003). Psychoanalysis and Buddhism: an unfolding dialogue. Boston: Wisdom.
Salzberg, S. (2008). Loving-kindness: the revolutionary art of happiness. Boston: Shambhala.
Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2013). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
Singer, T., & Bolz, M. (2013). Compassion: bridging practice and science. Munich: Max Plank Society.
Stanley, E. A. (2014). Mindfulness-based mind fitness training (MMFT): an approach for enhancing performance and building resilience in high stress contexts. In A. Le, C. T. Ngnoumen, & E. J. Langer (Eds.), The Wiley-Blackwell handbook of mindfulness (pp. 964–985). London: Wiley-Blackwell.
Tan, C.-M. (2012). Search inside yourself: increase productivity, creativity and happiness. London: Collins.
Thubten Chodron (2003). Antidotes to the afflictions. Downloaded on 8th January 2014 from http://www.thubtenchodron.org/DealingWithEmotions/antidotes.pdf.
Titmuss, C. (2013). The Buddha of mindfulness: a stress destruction programme. Christopher’s Dharma Blog. Posted 19th July 2013 on http://christophertitmuss.org/blog/the-buddha-of-mindfulness-the-politics-of-mindfulness.
West, M. (1987). The psychology of meditation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Whyte, D. (2001). Crossing the unknown sea: work as a pilgrimage of identity. New York: Riverhead books.
Williams, J. M. G., & Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Mindfulness: diverse perspectives on its meaning, origins and applications. London: Routledge.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Sarah Marx, Hester O Connor, Cindy Cooper, James Low, Ed Halliwell, Taravajra and Paul Johanson for their comments on earlier drafts of this paper
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marx, R. Accessibility Versus Integrity in Secular Mindfulness: A Buddhist Commentary. Mindfulness 6, 1153–1160 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-014-0366-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-014-0366-3