Mindfulness: A practical map of practices and their transformative domains

Abstract

When considering the numerous mindfulness-based programs that have flourished in the past decades, and the varieties of interventions that are being empirically assessed, it is not always clear that they all refer to the same "mindfulness". For the benefit of increasing clarity and precision in the field of contemporary mindfulness, we suggest a map that represents the terrain of mindfulness-based practices. The map is comprised of two axes that intersect. The first is the mindfulness practices themselves, that are grouped into four ‘families’. The second is the possible transformative processes and insights that they advance. While the four families of practice are suggested to encompass the varieties of mindfulness-based practices, there may be a large range of domains of transformation. Transformations can span from self-improvement intentions like improving concentration, to psychological, clinical and spiritual intentions. Here we begin the list of possible transformational axes with four domains of transformation that correspond to the intentions of the Buddhist project. As these are the transformational intentions of the ancient practices from which contemporary mindfulness practices developed, clarifying them may be of interest to many of the readers. Importantly, the map is not only an abstraction of various existing practices, but also a model that can help locate new practices within a web of relations between practices, intentions and sought-after transformations. These connections set up the context and provide practical grounds for a useful ethical discussion. Clarifying the practices, the intention of practitioners, and the expected transformative processes of specific mindfulness practices can support the integrity of mindfulness teacher-training programs, mindfulness programs for the general public, as well as advancement of more precise hypotheses and empirical evaluations regarding the effects and mechanisms of mindfulness practices.