Mindfulness is rooted in the 2500-year-old secular Buddhist teachings.The Buddha’s most important teaching on mindfulness is the Satipattana Sutta, ‘sati’ means to remember ‘pattana’ means to ‘establish’, the direct translation of which would be to ‘establish remembering’, in other words cultivating a capacity to remember, to be present and to pay attention to one’s momentary arising experience.
Mindfulness can also be defined as the presence of the heart, which involves cultivating qualities such as loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and non-attachment.
More Than a Buzzword
Mindfulness has become a popular buzzword in recent years, with its positive effects on mental health and productivity gaining recognition. It is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Mindfulness is beneficial in all aspects of life, from personal to professional, and can have a significant impact on one’s overall well-being.
Mindfulness has been studied extensively in the field of neuroscience, and the benefits are significant. Research has shown that mindfulness can reduce stress, improve cognitive functioning, enhance emotional regulation, and promote overall well-being. Additionally, mindfulness has been found to be effective in treating anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Practicing mindfulness can help us become a refreshing source of vitality and happiness for others.
Mindful Biz
Mindfulness has gained significant attention in the business world. It has been linked to improvements in decision-making, creativity, communication, and overall well-being in the workplace. Companies are now offering mindfulness training programs to their employees, recognizing that a happier, more focused workforce can lead to increased productivity and better outcomes. Mindfulness practices can help employees to manage workplace stress, improve concentration and decision-making abilities, and foster a positive work environment. By encouraging employees to take time for self-care, organizations can create a more supportive and engaged workforce.
Mindfulness practices such as deep breathing exercises, meditations,mindful movement exercises, journaling and mindful listening can help individuals to become more aware of their thoughts and emotions, and to cultivate self awareness together with greater empathy and compassion towards others.
Contemporary Mindfulness
Mindfulness is now included in secular fields such as psychology and neuroscience, and its contemporary definitions often include the purposeful cultivation of qualities of compassion, joy, openness, equanimity, non-judgment, and friendliness. Jon Kabat-Zinn, the creator of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program, defines nine attitudes of mindfulness, including non-judging, patience, beginner’s mind, trust, non-striving, acceptance, letting go, gratitude, and generosity. By cultivating these attitudes and qualities, we can protect ourselves from falling into habitual patterns of reactivity and enhance our well-being in all aspects of life.
To be able to remember what is otherwise too easily forgotten: the present moment.
Satipatthana-Analayo
