No abstract

The increasing popularity in the use of mindfulness in therapy and within the wider community raises concerns with mindfulness being employed as just a technique and understood intellectually, rather than experienced as a way of being. The article explores the ontological and ontic dimensions of the Buddha's teachings in relation to the 4 Noble Truths and the concepts of impermanence, dependent origination (interdependence), nonattachment, acceptance and letting be, and letting go. Expanding the understanding of mindfulness through an appreciation of these teachings and integrated holistically with the individual's own experiences, mindfulness becomes a life skill, rather than just a useful therapeutic adjunct. Clinical vignettes demonstrate how clients have engaged with these ideas and practices and learned to cultivate a more meditative attitude toward living.''What is the nature of my mind?'', ''What advantage is there in cultivating kind thoughts?'' What can we gain from harmful thoughts? Never stop asking yourself these questions. Reflecting on these points will show you just how much of a spoilsport your mind is, and how necessary it is to tame it. (His Holiness, The XIV Dalai Lama, 2002, p. 235) I noticed that a ''strange'' thing has been happening at my practice for a number of years. In the past, referring doctors often suggested the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy or relaxation exercises when putting forward treatment plans for patients. Nowadays the letters of referral propose the

Meditation, according to Sogyal Rinpoche (1994) involves learning to bring the mind "home." In order to accomplish this, one has to become aware of the mind's business, its distractions, preoccupations and inner dialogue. Meditation, especially the practice of mindfulness as taught by the Buddha more than 2,500 years ago, offers a simple and incisive tool for understanding the "workings" of one's mind.Although Buddhist psychology has gained wide acceptance in contemporary psychology, many therapists lack a full understanding of the clinical applications of Buddhist ideas and practices with clients. This paper discusses the use of mindfulness, and the Buddha's seminal teachings of "dependent origination," "karma," "letting be," and "letting go" in therapy. Through anecdotes and clinical vignettes, the paper illustrates how clients experience these practices and ideas, and how they have generalised their clinical experiences to other aspects of their lives.

This article is an introduction to the special issue "Revisiting and Re-Envisioning Mindfulness: Buddhist and Contemporary Perspectives." Please see the Table of Contents here: https://psycnet.apa.org/ journals/hum/49/1.

No abstract