The field of mindfulness practice and research has expanded over recent years and become more established in the public consciousness. In this paper we explore four key tensions for the mindfulness community to hold in awareness. These include: Mindfulness for me vs. mindfulness for others (an awareness of the loss of the spiritual and collective elements historically essential to mindfulness), Mindfulness for some vs. mindfulness for all (understanding why mindfulness may be more appealing for some more than others), The whole vs. the sum of its parts (the need to understand the mechanisms of mindfulness and still preserve its integrity), and Improving access vs. preserving fidelity (balancing modifications to address issues such as accessibility with retaining core components). Recognising such challenges is a vital aspect of ensuring that mindfulness researchers and practitioners continue to work in a way that retains authenticity and trust within this burgeoning field and helps to support engagement from a diverse range of people across the modern world.

The purported benefits of mindfulness, in terms of reducing suffering, increasing connection, and cultivating compassion have never been more important. We are living through difficult times: climate and biodiversity crises, violent conflict, rising costs of living, and a global pandemic. Whilst not all nations have been exposed to all these challenges to the same degree, as awareness about these global threats grows, so does universal concern and distress.Key to making ongoing progress in terms of mindfulness being able to meet some of these challenges will be the ability to bring curiosity and compassion to current areas of tension in the field.With this in mind, we present several areas of tension in this paper, to inform thinking and development in these areas for those in the mindfulness community and beyond.