History of Mindfulness: From East to West and Religion to Science
Where did mindfulness come from? And why have so many people in the West recently become so interested in it? There is no easy answer to this question, but one solution is to trace the lineage of mindfulness from early Eastern religions to its modern, secular presence in Western science.
The History of Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a practice involved in various religious and secular traditions-from Hinduism and Buddhism to yoga and, more recently, non-religious meditation.
- In general, mindfulness was popularized in the East by religious and spiritual institutions, while in the West its popularity can be traced to particular people and secular institutions.
- Most modern Western practitioners and teachers of mindfulness learned about mindfulness in the Buddhist and Hindu tradition.
A Take-Home Message
Mindfulness is a tradition that has a rich history steeped in religious and secular institutions
- Anyone looking to start practicing mindfulness can choose their preferred starting point
- Knowing the history of mindfulness is not necessary to begin practicing it, but knowing the roots of mindfulness can help you pick the tradition and practice that will be most useful for your life and your needs
Brief History of Hinduism
Hinduism is widely considered to be the oldest extant religion in the world, but it is hard to trace its history
- It initially arose as a synthesis of many religious traditions around the historical region that now makes up India
- In fact, the religious tradition was not even called Hinduism or considered a singular entity until British writers started calling Vedic traditions “Hinduism” in the 1800s
- The earliest traditions, which have since been incorporated into Hinduism, arose more than 4,000 years ago in the Indus Valley- now Pakistan
- These religious traditions continued to develop in Vedic writings 2,500-3,500 years ago, including rituals and the worship of gods common to modern-day Hinduism
Mindfulness’ Role in (Positive) Psychology
Mindfulness meditation has become a useful tool in positive psychology for anyone looking to increase their levels of wellbeing
- Western science has evolved to the point where it can evaluate the effectiveness of practicing mindfulness- making mindfulness an attractive option for those who are skeptical of Eastern traditions
- Can be practiced in many different ways for many different uses
History of Buddhism
Buddhism was founded around 400-500 BC by Siddhartha Gautama, who became referred to as the Buddha.
- Since the Buddha’s lifetime, it has split into several different traditions including Theravada Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. Today, Buddhism is often thought of in terms of Tibetan Buddhism and the Dalai Lama.
Mindfulness Practice and Philosophy
Mindfulness can come in lots of different forms-it could be a yoga practice that involves mindfulness, it might involve setting aside time for mindfulness meditation sessions, or it could involve practicing mindfulness during everyday activities (such as washing the dishes).
- It is easy and practiced anywhere.
- There is most likely a mindfulness practice tailored to you, no matter who you are.
How Mindfulness Relates to Yoga
Many yoga practices incorporate mindfulness and some mindfulness meditation practices, such as the body scan, are very similar to yoga as they both involve awareness of one’s body.
- People who practice yoga regularly have higher levels of mindfulness than people who are only slightly involved with yoga or who are not involved in yoga practice, which indicates that yoga is positively correlated with mindfulness levels and that some forms of yoga and mindfulness strive for the same goals.
How Mindfulness Moved From East to West
Jon Kabat-Zinn founded the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School
- This is where he developed his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program
- The integration with Western science was a crucial aspect in helping mindfulness gain widespread popularity in the West.
- One reason it took a Westerner to adapt and popularize Eastern traditions for a Western audience is the different worldviews prevalent in each hemisphere.