You don’t have to do it. You don’t have to take every thought in your head too seriously. It’s one of many gifts of meditation — a deep state of concentration and tranquility that keeps you open to life. This is what great meditation teacher Shunryu Suzuki (May 18, 1904–December 4, 1971) means when he … Read more
What is Jon Kabat-Zinn’s definition of mindfulness? We’ve already explored different Buddhist meanings of this term in the article about its seven alternative translations. Today, we’re turning to a secular definition of mindfulness that comes from Jon Kabat-Zinn‘s book Wherever You Go, There You Are. In the chapter titled “What Is Mindfulness?” he writes, “Mindfulness … Read more
Last week, we looked at the brief history of the term “mindfulness” and learned about seven ways it was translated into English language. The idea for the article came from Jeff Wilson’s Mindful America: The Mutual Transformation of Buddhist Meditation and American Culture. Because I love this book, I want to share a few reasons … Read more
From mindful eating to mindful leadership, the Buddhist concept of mindfulness is omnipresent in today’s culture. But what do we know about the term itself? Does it have alternative translations? These are some of the questions Jeff Wilson explores in his book Mindful America: The Mutual Transformation of Buddhist Meditation and American Culture. He writes: … Read more