Somatics of Early Buddhist Mindfulness and How to Face Anxiety

Abstract

The body is a central object of the cultivation of mindfulness, in the way this has been described in relevant Pāli discourses and their parallels. At the background of such cultivation stands the absence of positing a mind-body duality and a lack of concern with a particular physical location of the mind in early Buddhist thought. Moreover, the various exercises that involve directing mindfulness to the body need to be considered in conjunction in order to arrive at a balanced understanding of their overarching purpose. Out of the different possible modalities of cultivating mindfulness in this way, the discourses present awareness directed to one's own bodily postures as a practice already undertaken by the Buddha-to-be when he was still in quest of awakening. In this particular setting, such mindfulness of postures served as a way of facing fear. The potential of this exercise to provide a grounding in embodied mindfulness, being fully in the here and now, is of particular relevance to the challenges posed by the current pandemic.

Fear of COVID-19 and Mental Health: The Role of Mindfulness in During Times of Crisis

“…As noted, the current pandemic and associated fear have led society towards a proliferation of anxiety and depression. Since mindfulness offers helpful tools to face depression and anxiety, it may diminish the negative effect of fear of COVID-19 on individuals’ mental health (Anālayo, 2020 ). For instance, mindfulness enables the attention to focus on the present moment (Svendsen et al, 2017 ).…”

Teaching Transnational Buddhist Meditation with Vipassanā (Neiguan 內觀) and Mindfulness (Zhengnian 正念) for Healing Depression in Contemporary China

“…For example, "I go to the Buddha for refuge." the four "Divine Abidings" 32 or "immeasurable meditation" (Anālayo 2020b) that bring heavenly happiness (Collins 2000, p. 196). According to Buddhist texts, those who practice loving-kindness can receive eleven benefits, including sleeping easily, waking up happily, sleeping without evil dreams, being loved by people, and being protected from poison and weapons.…”

“…37 The contemporary evidence of embodied depression and mental suffering support the early Buddhist perspective of a non-dualistic body-mind relationship. Bodily inflicted harm is ultimately caused by harmful mental intention (Anālayo 2020b). Healing physical and mental suffering with the role of the body as an object of mindful contemplation is discussed in Buddhist texts.…”

“…Once, when Ananda, a disciple, was worried and anxious for the very sick body of the Buddha, the Buddha guided him to practice mindfulness as a means of self-reliance (Anālayo 2015). As stated in the Discourse on Mindfulness of the Body, by cultivating an embodied type of mindfulness, one benefit from overcoming fear, anxiety, and depression, bearing with bodily afflictions caused by weather, hunger, or thirst, and even attaining the absorption and awakening (Anālayo 2020b).…”

Buddhist Monastery, Amulet, Spiritual Support and COVID-19 Outbreak

“…In this particular setting, such mindfulness of postures served as a way of facing fear. The potential of this exercise to provide a grounding in embodied mindfulness, being fully in the here and now, is of particular relevance to the challenges posed by the current pandemic [82]." Additionally, Small and Blanc discussed on mental health during COVID-19 outbreak in Viet Nam [83].…”