Mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) in public schools, such as MindUP, Mindful Schools, and Calmer Choice, present themselves as secular by emphasizing neuroscience and avoiding terms like Buddhism or meditation, yet they were often developed by Buddhists or reflect Buddhist-derived assumptions and values. Controversies, including a 2016 legal challenge to Calmer Choice, involve complaints of religious coercion and barriers to opting out. Training often requires teachers to commit to personal practice, retreats at Buddhist centers, and supervision by Buddhist meditators. The chapter argues that secular framing can paradoxically increase the potential for these programs to instill religiously associated beliefs and practices.
The modern American concept of mindfulness, exemplified by Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), is nominally secular and supported by scientific research but is infused with Buddhist-derived assumptions, values, and practices. Many mindfulness-based programs exhibit the Malnak-Meyers indicia of religion, and some proponents describe their tactics as "Stealth Buddhism" or a "Trojan horse." The chapter argues that secularization requires more than removing religious language and adding scientific framing; it requires rebuilding from foundations not controlled by assumptions about the nature of the self and the world.