Abstract
This chapter traces the genealogy of mindfulness from its origin in the early collections of the Buddha’s teachings to contemporary mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). Mindfulness in the early teachings is understood as remembering the present, while in the twentieth-century Nyanaponika Thera presented mindfulness as bare attention. We examine some issues that have arisen from the adaptation of mindfulness from its original context, where it functions within its own sophisticated theoretical framework, to modernity, where its practice takes place within a secular and scientific culture entirely different from its original environment. We attempt to show that the Buddha’s “dharma” is an empirical project that, in its focus on the practical task of easing human suffering, bears a striking resemblance to modern secular MBIs. We then introduce our own approach to the application of mindfulness, in which we apply the Buddha’s original concept of mindfulness to its new secular and scientific context.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Note that all translations are from the second author, unless otherwise stated.
References
Anālayo. (2006). Satipatthana: The direct path to realization. Birmingham: Windhorse Publications.
Bodhi, B. (2000a). The connected discourses of Buddha: A translation of the Samyutta Nikaya. Boston: Wisdom Publications.
Bodhi, B. (Ed.). (2000b). Abhidhammattha sangaha. A comprehensive manual of abhidhamma. Seattle: BPS Pariyatti
Bodhi, B. (2012). The numerical discourses of the Buddha: A translation of the Anguttara Nikaya. Boston: Wisdom Publications.
Dreyfus, G. (2011). Is mindfulness present-centred and non-judgmental? A discussion of the cognitive dimensions of mindfulness. Contemporary Buddhism, 12(1), 41–54.
Gethin, R. (1998). The foundations of Buddhism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Gethin, R. (2001). The Buddhist path to awakening: A study of the bodhi-pakkhiyā-dhammā. Oxford: Oneworld Publications.
Gethin, R. (2011). On some definitions of mindfulness. Contemporary Buddhism, 12(1), 263–279.
Goldstein, J. (1976). The experience of insight. A natural unfolding. Santa Cruz: Unity Press.
Goldstein, J. (2002). One dharma: The emerging western Buddhism. London: Rider.
Gowans, C. W. (2003). Philosophy of the Buddha. London: Routledge.
Grossman, P. (2010). Mindfulness for psychologists: Paying kind attention to the perceptible. Mindfulness, 1, 87–97.
Grossman, P., & Van Dam, N. T. (2011). Mindfulness, by any other name …: Trials and tribulations of sati in western psychology and science. Contemporary Buddhism, 12(1), 219–239.
Harvey, P. (2000). An introduction to Buddhist ethics. Foundations, values & issues. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hayes, S., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford.
Houtman, G. (1990). Traditions of Buddhist practice in Burma. London University. https://http://www.academia.edu/1836315/. (Burmese Traditions of Buddhist Practice).
Houtman, G. (1999). Mental Culture in Burmese Crisis Politics Monograph Series. https://http://www.academia.edu/1836314/. (Mental Culture in Burmese Crisis Politics Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy).
Jordt, I. (2007). Burma’s mass lay meditation movement: Buddhism and the cultural construction of power. Athens: Ohio University Press.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living. Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. New York: Dell Publishing.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Mindfulness-based interventions in context: Past, present, and future. Clinical psychology: Science and Practice, 10, 144–156.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2011). Some reflections on the origins of MBSR, skillful menas, and the trouble with maps. Contemporary Buddhism, 12(1), 281–306.
Kalupahana, D. J. (1975). Causality: The central philosophy of Buddhism. Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii.
Kalupahana, D. J. (1992). A history of Buddhist philosophy. Continuities & discontinuities. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Kearney, P. (2011). Transformations of insight. In C. Rocha & M. Barker (Eds.), Buddhism in Australia: Traditions in change (pp. 107–112). Abingdon: Routledge.
Keown, D. (2001). The nature of Buddhist ethics. Basingstroke: Palgrave.
King, R. (1999). Orientalism and religion: Postcolonial theory, India and “The Mystic East”. London: Routeldge.
Kornfield, J. (1993). A path with heart: A guide through the perils and promises of spiritual life. New York: Bantam.
Linehan, M. M. (1993a). Cognitive-behavioural treatment of borderline personality disorder. New York: Guilford.
Linehan, M. M. (1993b). Skills training manual for treating borderline personality disorder. New York: Guilford.
Mahasi. (1971). Practical insight meditation. Basic and progressive stages. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society.
McCown, D., Reibel, D., & Micozzi, M. S. (2011). Teaching minduflness: A practical guide for clinicians and educators. New York: Springer.
McMahan, D. L. (2008). The making of Buddhist modernism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Monier-Williams, M. (1872). Sanskrit-English dictionary etymologically and philologically arranged. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Rhys Davids, T. W., & Stede, W. (Eds.). (1999) The Pali Text Society’s Pali-English dictionary. Oxford: The Pali Text Society.
Robinson, R. H., Johnson, W. L., & Ṭhānissaro, B. (2005). Buddhist religions. A historical introduction. Belmont: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2002). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: A new approach to preventing relapse. New York: Guilford.
Thanissaro. (1996). The wings to awakening. An anthology from the Pali Canon. Massachusetts: Dhamma Dana Publications.
Thera, N. (1969). The heart of Buddhist meditation. London: Rider & Company.
Thera, N. (1972). The power of mindfulness. San Francisco: Unity Press.
Warren, H. C., & Kosambi, D. (Eds.). (1989). Visuddhimagga of Buddhaghosācariya. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hwang, YS., Kearney, P. (2015). A Genealogy of Mindfulness. In: A Mindfulness Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Mindfulness in Behavioral Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18962-8_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18962-8_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-18961-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-18962-8
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)