Mindfulness and the contemplative life: pathways to connection, insight, and purpose.
Cortland J. Dahl, Richard J. Davidson
Current Opinion in Psychology August 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.11.007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Proposes that mindfulness is a foundation for other contemplative practices and that worldview is an important variable in mindfulness practice. |
Abstract
Despite the growing popular and scientific interest in mindfulness and other forms of meditation, there are important gaps in our understanding of the full range of contemplative practices and the manner in which specific forms of meditation may contribute to well-being. In this article, we discuss the relationship between mindfulness and other forms of meditation, such as those related to prosocial qualities, cognitive insight, and meaning and purpose. We propose that mindfulness plays an important role as a foundation for other contemplative practices. We also discuss the importance of worldview as a variable in mindfulness practice and raise questions that may guide future research in this area.