Science – Three definitions of mindfulness in research (thanks to Daniel Siegel):
- In plain language, [mindfulness] synonyms include alert, astute, attentive, aware, careful, heedful, thoughtful, wary, watchful, wide-awake, and wise (see Rondale, 1978)
- [Mindfulness] signifies being open minded and avoiding premature closure of possibilities, as in its use in mindful education, studied by Ellen Langer (1989, 1997)
- In contemplative usage, mindfulness involves being aware, on purpose and nonjudgmentally, of what is happening as it is happening in the present moment (see Kabat-Zinn, 2005; Germer, Siegel, & Fulton, 2004…[others])
Buddhism – breifly
Mindfulness within Buddhist Practice encompasses all skillful or wholesome qualities of mind. A meditation practice can bring all these positive qualities to fruition, as natural outflowings of lived experience including wholesome responses to the world and environment and good will toward other beings. These are heart qualities as well as mind. In fact words for mind in Pali include what we think of as heart. A personal practice test, to measure your degree of mindfulness, is to look for qualities of mind that include kindness and compassion toward both self and to others. If either is absent, mindfulness is not present.
Going Beyond what You Believe to be True, Being Prayer
What is most important is not defining or describing mindfulness, but living it. Mindfulness or mindful awareness is the manifestation of all definitions of mindfulness in lived experience, in the way we live and interact in any and every moment. These moments are graceful and fluid, integrated. We live as athletes, skilled and alert, personally developed and working with others, ready for each unfolding moment. We live as if dancing or playing music, especially jazz or blues; music that is fresh and responsive, that takes whatever is known and lets in flow as needed for circumstances of the moment.