Mindfulness practice, inherited from the Buddhist tradition, is being employed in Western psychology to alleviate a variety of mental and physical conditions, including: obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, the prevention of relapse in area’s such as, depression and drug addiction.
The Buddha advocated that one should establish mindfulness (satipatthana) in one’s day-to-day life maintaining as much as possible a calm awareness of one’s bodily functions, sensations (feelings), objects of consciousness (thoughts and perceptions), and consciousness itself.
Scientific research into mindfulness generally falls under the umbrella of positive psychology. Research has been ongoing over the last twenty or thirty years, with a surge of interest over the last decade in particular. It is believed that this practice of raising ‘awareness’ and being ‘present’ in the moment, offers a richer experience for us all and enables greater self- mastery where that is lacking and the opportunity to live a more content and fulfilled life. Judge it’s merits for yourself….
Also see: Introspective Practices