Meditation and mindfulness
Contemporary Buddhism May 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1080/14639947.2011.564832 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 42 |
| Key points | Argues that Korean Zen meditation fosters mindfulness through samatha and vipassanā, that the 'four great efforts' parallel MBCT methods, and that the Buddha's five methods for difficult thoughts represent an early cognitive behavioral strategy. |
Abstract
In this article I share some of my experiences of practising Korean Zen meditation and how, without ever mentioning the word ‘mindfulness,’ this practice helps us to become mindful. This leads me to suggest that the main ingredients of Buddhist meditation are samatha (which I will translate here as ‘concentration’) and vipassanā (which I will call ‘experiential enquiry’). No matter which Buddhist tradition one follows, the practice of samatha and vipassanā will lead to the cultivation of mindfulness. I also intend to show how the traditional doctrine of the ‘four great efforts’ is very close to therapeutic methods advocated in MBCT. I will also propose that the Buddha's five methods of dealing with difficult thoughts as presented in the Vitakkhasa hāna Sutta (Majjhima Nikāya 20) are examples of an early Buddhist cognitive behavioural strategy.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Dancing Mindfulness: A Phenomenological Investigation of the Emerging Practice. Explore 2015
- A Focus on the Voice: Attention as a Unifying Mechanism Underlying Vocal Training and Mindfulness voice and speech review September 2, 2023
- Combined Liuzijue and mindful breathing promote greater sustained relaxation than mindful breathing alone in university students with anxiety symptoms Frontiers in Psychology July 13, 2026
- The effect of a 7‐day intensive Buddhist meditation on existential isolation, interpersonal isolation, and compassion among South Koreans Journal of Applied Social Psychology September 1, 2023
- Trait and state mindfulness modulate EEG microstates medRxiv November 24, 2021
and 2 more in the library