Over the last 40 years, there has been a surprisingly rapid acceptance of “Mindfulness” practices into mainstream culture, valued not only as a method of relaxation but even as a therapeutic practice in the arena of psychology. I believe however, it can be put to much greater use than the way I typically see it being applied.
In its most generic application, the format of most mindfulness practices I have read about or seen taught seems essentially to revolve around teaching people how to relax through various breathing practices, or learning how to reduce (or at least temporarily try to get rid of) our thought processes. Generally, then, mindfulness in our culture is being used to learn how to enter into a “flow state”, and how to relax, destress, and declutter. It is offered to help reduce depression, anxiety, stress, physical pain, relationship conflict, eating disorders, and a wide array of other distressing experiences. As often referenced, mindfulness meditations have been seen and embraced as a way to reduce suffering.
As helpful and useful as all of this may be, I believe that the mindfulness/contemplative practices envisioned by the Eastern philosophies were intended for a much larger purpose, one which can generally be described as helping and encouraging individuals to evolve, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. And the aim of that form of practice was not just for the benefit of the individual but for the much wider and important benefits of the society and the world in which we live.
But there is a vast distance between using mindfulness as a means of learning how to relax and declutter, and Mindfulness as a way of living and as a daily practice, a constant learning in the art of how to become increasingly skillful at utilizing one’s awareness for the purpose of one’s psychological development and maturation, for the benefit of everyone and everything.
Perhaps, because Mindfulness practices are amazingly easy to misunderstand and immensely difficult to properly implement, it is not surprising that much of what we see today being offered and practiced as “Mindfulness” seems to entirely miss the developmental point of it all. It is this, above all, that makes Mindfulness matter.
It is important to you as an individual, and it is important to the people in your life.
As your psychological growth and development occur, the quality of all of my relationships transforms. Here I am referring to the relationship with my “self”, with “other”, and with the “world” in which I live. It affects not only how I think about such things, it also profoundly affects my actions, reactions, and behaviours. Mindfulness as a practice is not simply about finding a way to suffer less or to be happy. The natural consequences of proper Mindfulness practice are much more profound.
From my perspective, far too many modern Mindfulness orientations seem to be promising peace and happiness as though it were a pill we could take, without clear appreciation of the fact that this practice requires considerable discipline and proper instruction.
My next post, On Mindfulness, will provide greater clarity on the above thoughts and more. I encourage anyone interested to continue reading and comment if you wish.