Is Mindfulness Religion?

Mindfulness, despite being promoted as a secular therapeutic method, exhibits characteristics of American metaphysical religion, modernist Buddhism, and neo-Vedanta. The rhetoric of Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the modern Mindfulness movement, is tested against theories of religion and critiques from Theravāda and Māhāyana Buddhist specialists. Kabat-Zinn claims his teachings are universal, but they actually blend elements from various religious traditions rooted in Asia, the United States, and Europe. As Mindfulness is increasingly adopted in public schools, government agencies, and the military, this raises questions about the separation of church and state.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This chapter considers whether Mindfulness can reasonably be considered a kind of religion, despite proponents’ claims to the contrary. If so, what kind? Is it Buddhist? If so, what kind of Buddhism? The rhetoric of Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the modern Mindfulness movement, is tested against several different theories of religion, as well as critiques by specialists in both Theravāda and Māhāyana forms of Buddhism. While Mindfulness is positioned as a strictly secular therapeutic method, it has all the characteristics of American metaphysical religion, as well as of modernist Buddhism and neo-Vedanta. Kabat-Zinn claims his teachings are “universal,” yet they actually reflect his own eclectic blend of elements from various religious traditions with roots in Asia, the United States, and Europe. As Mindfulness is increasingly promoted in public schools, government agencies, and the military, this raises legitimate questions about the separation of church and state.