Buddhist influence in the Mindfulness Movement within Western Psychology
Brazilian Journal of Development May 26, 2025 Pei Fuen Ng
A review of four mindfulness-based interventions—MBSR, MBCT, DBT, and ACT—finds they draw inspiration from different forms of Buddhist meditation but are secularized and often combined with other theoretical frameworks. The operational definition of 'mindfulness' in psychological research lacks standardization, and the MBSR definition is criticized for not aligning with the Buddhist term 'sati' or its early soteriological context. The mindfulness movement increasingly distances itself from its Buddhist roots, leaving the field without a solid theoretical foundation. The authors suggest greater benefit could come from Buddhist traditions contributing actively to contemplative psychology by providing simplified access to source texts.