Mindfulness definition,
meaning, practice and modern
perspective
T
he word ‘mindfulness’ is a fashion word. Google
has more than 25 million hits. We hear this word
daily more than 100 times or more at work, at
home, from friends and relations. Everyone from common
man to scientists define mindfulness in their own ways.
When some word or practice becomes popular or buzz
word, it gradually loses its essence, its authenticity and
clarity.
And, of course, people may not know the meaning of the
word, still, they use it. (Be mindful of Eating, Talking,
Breath, Body….)
What about meditation instead of mindfulness or vice-
versa.
Many students who attend my classes on mindfulness /
meditation, start talking, how they both are different. Why
they like mindfulness and not meditation? For a person like
me, who dedicated more than 38 years of life in learning
mindfulness or meditation, seems strange and superficial.
You know, mindfulness from Buddha …. Really?
Then people prove that mindfulness is associated with
Buddha and Buddhism. That meditation is different from
mindfulness. It is effortless and natural. One expert of
mindfulness sent a message on Facebook, that the practice
is effortless and natural. How can a practice ever be
effortless?
The word – mindfulness, existed in English (mindfulnesse in
French). Perhaps, it is derived from word ‘men’ to ‘mind’ to
‘mindful’ (Latin). The word, ‘mind’ literally means to
remember, to recollect (1400BC), to perceive (1500BC),
be careful about (1750BC), to take of, to look after
(1690BC). Mindful meant – of good memory, of
recollecting something or someone.
A British scholar of Pali (offshoot of Sanskrit language),
Thomas William Rhys Davids (1842-1922) translated the
seventh of the eight fold noble path as mindfulness.
The words Samana sati in Pali and Smriti in Sanskrit literally
means – memory, recollecting, self-remembering.
He translated the word – right mindfulness or correct
JAN 2018
YOGIC HERALD 37