Repository | Series | Book | Chapter

192716

Mindfulness

traditional and utilitarian

David Brazier

pp. 63-74

Abstract

This chapter distinguishes modern, utilitarian mindfulness from original, Buddhist mindfulness. It clarifies some of the cultural factors that have shaped the transition from the original to the contemporary approaches. It analyses and critiques some of these factors, particularly "here-and-now-ism" and the overvaluation of consciousness. It suggests that there was, in the original Buddhist mindfulness, a much richer and more fundamental resource for enlightened living than in the modern version and asks whether the modern version will prove to be simply a weak variant, or a step on the way to a more wide-ranging transformation of our cultural values.

Publication details

Published in:

Purser Ronald E, Forbes David, Burke Adam (2016) Handbook of mindfulness: culture, context, and social engagement. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 63-74

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-44019-4_5

Full citation:

Brazier David (2016) „Mindfulness: traditional and utilitarian“, In: R.E. Purser, D. Forbes & A. Burke (eds.), Handbook of mindfulness, Dordrecht, Springer, 63–74.