Dear All, i would love to read your opinions on this topic.
Is the current sati or mindfulness based paradigm leaving parts of the path out?
if so, what could happen? can we do this?
if not, why do you think so? do they include right view or other parts of the path?
As far as I understand these Mindfulness based programs, they are designed for stress management to treat depression, anxiety, chronic pain and so on. I believe this approach helps to alleviate physical or mental problems to some extent.
Looking at the goal of Buddha dhamma, Buddha has clearly mentioned in his teachings that the mindfulness practice is for the purification of beings, ending of the mass suffering and attaining Nibbana or enlightenment.
Firstly, mindfulness practice is part and partial of the path to enlightenment. According to teachings of noble 8fold path, there are eight factors to be developed which can be seen in three fold trainings.
1. moral behavioral training (Sila or morality)
2. mental training (Samadhi or meditation )
3. cognitive training (Panna or wisdom)
I suppose these mindfulness based programs do not emphasize in developing morality. It is, according to Buddha, the foundation for meditation practice.
In Buddhist meditation, Mindfulness meditation is always accompanied by clear comprehension. In Pali, it is called "sati sampajanna" which means mindfulness of the object with clear understanding the nature of impermanence. I suppose they do not emphasize it in those programs.
It is my only assumption through various readings of articles and book but have not personally attended these mindfulness based programs.
Mindfulness based program is a secular program where it still benefits to reduce mental suffering
due to anxiety, stress and mild depression.
As one benefits from this program one may opt to Dhamma based mindfulness. Dhamma based mindfulness includes Vippasana-Samatha and Metta Bhavana and the Noble Eightfold paths provide a very stable foundation for the path to cease suffering. The ethics part like right livelihood, speech and actions provides stable foundation for the mind as it prevents the mind fall into the noxious trio of greed, aversion and delusion which are the root cause of suffering. Then the mental development and wisdom part of the Noble Eightfold path like right mindfulness, concentration and wisdom are very easier. Secular mindfulness program unable to provide these portions. Thus, it may not able to have a strong and lasting benefits as long term management of depression and anxiety to the sufferers. Morever, Dhamma based mindfulness is a proven path for 2500 years.
mindfulness and clear comprehension
As far as I understand these Mindfulness based programs, they are designed for stress management to treat depression, anxiety, chronic pain and so on. I believe this approach helps to alleviate physical or mental problems to some extent.
Looking at the goal of Buddha dhamma, Buddha has clearly mentioned in his teachings that the mindfulness practice is for the purification of beings, ending of the mass suffering and attaining Nibbana or enlightenment.
Firstly, mindfulness practice is part and partial of the path to enlightenment. According to teachings of noble 8fold path, there are eight factors to be developed which can be seen in three fold trainings.
1. moral behavioral training (Sila or morality)
2. mental training (Samadhi or meditation )
3. cognitive training (Panna or wisdom)
I suppose these mindfulness based programs do not emphasize in developing morality. It is, according to Buddha, the foundation for meditation practice.
In Buddhist meditation, Mindfulness meditation is always accompanied by clear comprehension. In Pali, it is called "sati sampajanna" which means mindfulness of the object with clear understanding the nature of impermanence. I suppose they do not emphasize it in those programs.
It is my only assumption through various readings of articles and book but have not personally attended these mindfulness based programs.
mindfulness and meditation
Mindfulness is a new idea for me. Can we interchange mindfulness and meditation? Are they the same?
Buddhist Psychotherapy
Mindfulness based program is a secular program where it still benefits to reduce mental suffering
due to anxiety, stress and mild depression.
As one benefits from this program one may opt to Dhamma based mindfulness. Dhamma based mindfulness includes Vippasana-Samatha and Metta Bhavana and the Noble Eightfold paths provide a very stable foundation for the path to cease suffering. The ethics part like right livelihood, speech and actions provides stable foundation for the mind as it prevents the mind fall into the noxious trio of greed, aversion and delusion which are the root cause of suffering. Then the mental development and wisdom part of the Noble Eightfold path like right mindfulness, concentration and wisdom are very easier. Secular mindfulness program unable to provide these portions. Thus, it may not able to have a strong and lasting benefits as long term management of depression and anxiety to the sufferers. Morever, Dhamma based mindfulness is a proven path for 2500 years.