The practice of mindfulness: from Buddhism to secular mainstream in a post-secular society

Mindfulness has moved from being a Buddhist religious practice to a core component of Western psychology, especially in cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. In Sweden, doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists use and recommend mindfulness therapeutically. It is also employed in personal development, spirituality, traditional Buddhist groups, and innovative vipassana groups. This paper examines mindfulness's migration from a religious to a secular sphere and debates whether it remains a religious practice.

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Abstract

The article focuses on the practice of mindfulness, which has migrated from being part of a religion, Buddhism, to being an integral part of Western psychology. Mindfulness is especially used in cognitive behavioural therapy, but also in, e.g., dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). In Sweden several doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists use and recommend mindfulness for therapeutic purposes. Mindfulness is used today in many segments of mainstream medical and therapeutic care. Mindfulness is also used outside the mainstream medical and therapeutic sector, in the area of personal development or spirituality, as well as in more traditional Buddhist groups and innovative Buddhist groups such as vipassana groups. This paper investigates the migration of mindfulness from a religious to a secular sphere, and discusses whether mindfulness is a religious practice or not.