A Contemporary Model for Right Mindfulness Based on Theravada Buddhist Texts

To develop a model of right mindfulness that is in line with descriptions found in the sutta texts of the Pāli Canon, and provide an understanding of the Buddhist concept sati, originally translated as mindfulness, that returns to the historical emphasis now lost in contemporary definitions developed for mindfulness-based interventions.

In order to address this, Theravada sutta texts were examined to recover an accurate description of right mindfulness.

Therein, the faculty of mindfulness is simply defined as the ability to remember; however, right mindfulness differs from the mere faculty of mindfulness—right mindfulness is a necessary part of the eightfold path. Authors suggest that right mindfulness should be defined as a praxis in which one becomes diligent, alert, and mindful in perceptions of the body, feelings, thoughts, or mental qualities, in the present moment, in the absence of hindrances. We propose a novel model of right mindfulness that represents all the essential components, as defined by the sutta texts. This contemporary model of right mindfulness and the conceptual map identifying critical points for its application could clarify some of the ambiguity in the contemporary Western understanding of mindfulness. We also present a schematic illustration to compare the conceptual mapping of aspects of mindfulness with cognitive scientific categories of memory.

Our proposed model of right mindfulness, together with clarification of mindfulness and memory, will have important implications for further development of mindfulness-based interventions as well as the practice of mindfulness meditation.