What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness practice is currently a fad in the West. And that’s wonderful — it’s great that, as a culture, we’re promoting more mindfulness and less mindlessness. But with its surge in popularity, there has also been a lot of misunderstanding as to what mindfulness is. The word as it’s used casually in English just doesn’t quite capture the fullness of the experiential state of mind the word points to.It seems to be thought of more as a tool than a state of being. Many promote it as a way to manage manage anxiety and depression, and there are others who promote it as way to increase concentration and productivity. And there’s no real understanding at all of the historical and philosophical context in which it sits.Now, just to be clear, mindfulness practice certainly can increase productivity and concentration. It can alleviate stress and manage anxiety and depression. And in fact, this is how it was presented to me, it’s how I stepped into the practice over a decade ago when I was dealing with chronic depression and suicidal ideation. So, great, if this is your motivation for practicing.But, considered in its full historical and philosophical context, the practice is much more than a stress ball or corporate tool. It’s a profound means for looking at one’s own experience. It’s a method to bring about a radical change in one’s understanding — a way to gain insights about yourself, the world, and your place in it. It’s a way to dramatically transform your life and your being in the world.So, today, rather than meditate, I’d like to just take this space to talk for a moment about what mindfulness is. Okay, so what is it?