Mindfulness practice in informal settings : a study based on the Pāli Nikāyas

Abstract

As evident in the growth in research and application of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), the interest in mindfulness has increased exponentially over the past few decades. Mindfulness, translated from the Pāli term sati and rooted in Buddhism, is generally understood as a state of consciousness that entails regulating attention to focus on the moment-to-moment experience with an open orientation. A great deal of empirical and scientific researches on mindfulness provide support for its benefits in managing various physical and mental health conditions as well as in improving individual wellbeing and quality of life. Studies agree that the ability to evoke and sustain the state of mindfulness can be cultivated by practice in both formal and informal settings derived from the Buddhist tradition. In contrast to formal sessions of mindfulness meditation, which involves setting aside other activities to engage in contemplative practice in a static posture for a lengthy period of time, mindfulness practice in informal settings can take place at any moment within the flow of daily activities. Mindfulness practice in informal settings has been integrated into various MBIs as an indispensable component. However, there is limited research addressing this form of practice from a Buddhist perspective. The Buddhist theoretical foundation of and the Buddhist guidelines for mindfulness practice in informal settings remain unclear. An investigation into the mindfulness practice in informal settings and its role in the overall framework of mindfulness cultivation as evident in early Buddhist texts helps promoting the understanding of this increasingly prevalent form of mindfulness practice from a Buddhist perspective and developing more effective practices for mindfulness cultivation. Therefore, this research identifies and analyzes the teachings regarding mindfulness practice in informal settings in early Buddhist texts. Through a detailed content analysis of the earliest scriptures, mainly the first four Nikāya-s from the Sutta Piṭaka, this research clarifies the role of mindfulness practice in informal settings in the mindfulness cultivation framework and elucidates implicit teachings pertaining to this form of practice. The four Chinese Āgama-s that correspond to the Nikāya-s are also consulted, as well as some exegetical sources including the Visuddhimagga and the Vimuttimagga.