正念

Mindfulness

Buddhism · practice

The practice of present-moment awareness without judgment. Central to Buddhist meditation and increasingly applied in modern psychology and secular contexts. In Buddhism, mindfulness (sati) is the seventh factor of the Eightfold Path, cultivated through formal meditation and daily life. Modern secular programs draw on these Buddhist roots.

The only way to overcome suffering is to be mindful of the present moment.

— Satipatthana Sutta (Buddhist tradition)

What Are the Key Facts About Mindfulness?

  • Tradition: Buddhism
  • Chinese: 正念
  • Category: Practice
  • Definition: The practice of present-moment awareness without judgment.

What Concepts Are Related to Mindfulness?

Stillness 静
Interpretively related
Stillness and mindfulness are complementary contemplative practices
 Four Noble Truths 四圣谛
Conceptually related
Mindfulness (sati) is the第七 factor of the Eightfold Path and a direct application of the truths
 Eightfold Path 八正道
Pedagogically related
Right Mindfulness (samma sati) is the seventh factor of the Eightfold Path
 Bodhidharma 菩提达摩
Pedagogically related
Bodhidharma taught wall-gazing meditation as mindfulness practice
 Samsara 轮回
Interpretively related
Mindfulness practice is a path to liberation from samsara

Frequently Asked Questions About Mindfulness

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of maintaining present-moment, non-judgmental awareness. It has roots in Buddhist sati (remembering/awareness) and is now widely used in secular therapy (MBSR).

Is mindfulness Buddhist?

Its source is Buddhist meditation (sati in the Eightfold Path), but modern clinical mindfulness (Kabat-Zinn's MBSR) is secularized and stripped of religious framing.

What is the difference between mindfulness and meditation?

Meditation is a broader set of practices; mindfulness is a quality of attention that can be cultivated in formal meditation and applied throughout daily activity.

What are the benefits of mindfulness?

Research associates regular mindfulness practice with improved attention and greater emotional regulation, though effects are modest and context-dependent.

Further Reading