Adding historical depth to definitions of mindfulness.
Current Opinion in Psychology October 9, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.09.013 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Awareness History, ancient Mind-body therapies |
| Key points | Argues that semantic ambiguity around 'mindfulness' hampers Mindfulness-Based Intervention research and that historical and doctrinal sources from Buddhist traditions can add depth to definitions. Proposes comparing clinical applications with related Buddhist teachings through cross-disciplinary dialogue between Buddhist studies and psychology to better understand what mindfulness involves and how it operates. |
Abstract
Research on Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) is hampered by semantic ambiguity surrounding the term 'mindfulness'. Understanding the core quality involved in such research could be improved by adding historical depth to definitions of mindfulness, based on more detailed information on mindfulness from text-historical and doctrinal sources in the Buddhist traditions. Particular applications of mindfulness in current clinical usage could be compared to related approaches or doctrinal teachings in Buddhist traditions as part of an ongoing cross-disciplinary dialogue between academics in Buddhist studies and in psychology under the shared aim of deepening our understanding of what mindfulness involves and how it operates.
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 29
- The Lived Experiences of Palliative Care Professionals in Cultivating Mindfulness: A Phenomenological Study Journal of Holistic Nursing May 8, 2024
- Zen Philosophy of Mindfulness: Nen 念 according to Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō Religions August 24, 2022
- Can psychedelic use benefit meditation practice? Examining individual, psychedelic, and meditation-related factors. PLoS One February 12, 2025
- Assessing the effects of an 8-week mindfulness training program on neural oscillations and self-reports during meditation practice bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) February 13, 2024
- Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Anxiety of Young Students in India: A Meta-Analysis MIER Journal of Educational Studies Trends & Practices November 1, 2025
and 24 more in the library
Cites 8
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- Conceptual and methodological issues in research on mindfulness and meditation. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Investigating the phenomenological matrix of mindfulness-related practices from a neurocognitive perspective. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
and 3 more in the library