In Part 2, we examined the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path—a framework of wisdom, morality, and meditation trainings aimed at enabling us to end suffering and attain awakening. This framework highlights how Buddhist mindfulness, or right mindfulness, as one of the factors of the Eightfold Path, works alongside moral behavior and wisdom to nurture a wise, joyful, and balanced way of living. Such an integrated approach leads to deeper understanding, inner peace, and, ultimately, liberation from suffering.
Secular mindfulness, which often focuses on stress relief, productivity, and physical and mental health, addresses only certain forms of suffering. In contrast, right mindfulness, supported by the other factors of the Eightfold Path, targets the root causes of suffering by fostering deep insight into the nature of reality.
Let us now continue to explore the key differences between Buddhist mindfulness and its modern secular counterpart. This foundational understanding will prepare us for the next discussion on how secular mindfulness, when practiced outside its Buddhist context, may sometimes contradict the Buddha’s teachings and even lead to harm.
The discerning capacity of right mindfulness
While all of the interrelated factors of the Noble Eightfold Path—right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration— reinforce each other, right mindfulness plays a particularly special role. It is essential for the other path factors. (Anālayo 2006) Right mindfulness acts as a key to ensuring that all the other factors are practiced correctly. (Bodhi 2011)
In the Buddhist scriptures, mindfulness is likened to the gatekeeper of a town, who identifies and permits entry only to those who should enter. In other words, strong mindfulness helps to prevent negative mental states and reactions from arising when we interact with the world, while allowing only positive mental states and reactions to take root. (Anālayo 2006) This means that right mindfulness, supported by other mental qualities, actively involves discernment. It helps us to distinguish between positive and negative thoughts and feelings.
The discerning capacity of right mindfulness is thus distinct from the non-judgmental approach often emphasized in secular mindfulness. While describing and practicing mindfulness as “non-judgmental” can be helpful for reducing overthinking, this concept can be misleading from a Buddhist perspective. It might suggest that all mental states are equally valuable, which is not the case. For instance, it could imply that greed is as valid as non-attachment, or that anger is as acceptable as friendliness. (Gethin 2011)
In right mindfulness, judgment based on wisdom—rooted in right view and right intention—is not about harshly criticizing ourselves, but about recognizing which thoughts and feelings are beneficial or harmful. (Wallace 2010) This understanding enables us to cultivate constructive thoughts and behaviors while letting go of those that are destructive.
The essence of right mindfulness
As discussed in my previous article, a factor in the Noble Eightfold Path is considered “right” (or “skillful”) only when it is developed alongside the other factors of the path. Simply put, Buddhist mindfulness, which refers to right mindfulness, is the kind of mindfulness that fosters wisdom and awakening. (Huxter 2015)
Right mindfulness is, therefore, inseparable from wise discernment and the practice of harmlessness, both integral aspects of the Eightfold Path. These qualities work together to address the root causes of suffering, guiding individuals toward moral integrity, mental clarity, and ultimately, liberation from suffering. (Huxter 2015)
Wrong mindfulness
Wrong (or unskillful) mindfulness, in contrast to right mindfulness, leads to negative outcomes. While wrong mindfulness involves being attentive, it does not support insight or wisdom and can even cause harm or suffering. For example, a burglar needs to be attentive to successfully accomplish their objectives; however, this kind of mindfulness does not promote true understanding. (Huxter 2015)
When a burglar uses mindfulness to become more efficient at breaking into a property with the intention of stealing, they disregard the negative impact their behaviors may have on others. This exemplifies wrong mindfulness, guided by wrong view and wrong intention (the opposites of the first and second factors of the Eightfold Path). Engaging in illegal activities that deprive others of their possessions, gaining money through dishonest means, and possibly lying when caught reflects wrong speech, wrong action, and wrong livelihood (the opposites of the third, fourth, and fifth factors of the Eightfold Path). As the burglar’s mental effort and focus are directed toward destructive goals, this constitutes wrong concentration and wrong effort (the opposites of the sixth and eighth factors of the Eightfold Path).
In essence, all eight factors of the Eightfold Path are inverted, turning from “right” (or “skillful”) to “wrong” (or “unskillful”). This demonstrates how the path factors can either reinforce each other positively or negatively. When all factors are “right,” they create a virtuous cycle of growth along the Eightfold Path, ultimately leading to the end of suffering. Conversely, when the factors are “wrong,” they form a detrimental cycle that obstructs personal development and deepens confusion, resulting in greater suffering.
Thích Nhất Hạnh offers insight into this fundamental misunderstanding of mindfulness: “If you consider mindfulness as a means to having a lot of money, then you have not touched its true purpose. It may look like the practice of mindfulness but inside there’s no peace, no joy, no happiness produced. It’s just an imitation. If you don’t feel the energy of brotherhood, of sisterhood, radiating from your work, that is not mindfulness.” (Plum Village App Team 2020) We will explore more about Thích Nhất Hạnh’s interpretation of mindfulness in later articles.
The burglar example underscores the importance of the discerning capacity of right mindfulness, which enables us to recognize which thoughts and behaviors to cultivate and which to avoid. A non-judgmental approach, on the other hand, might lead the burglar to rationalize or accept their harmful thoughts and behaviors without acknowledging their negative consequences. This lack of discernment could allow them to execute their stealing plan more effectively, leading to increased ignorance and suffering for both themselves and others.
Conclusion
Unlike secular mindfulness, which often adopts a non-judgmental approach, right mindfulness is always accompanied by wise discernment, rooted in wisdom. By recognizing which thoughts and actions are beneficial or harmful, we can actively choose to engage in those that promote happiness and to let go of those that lead to suffering. This discerning capacity is essential for preventing the arising of wrong mindfulness, which can encourage destructive behaviors, strengthen unhelpful thought patterns, and cloud our ability to see things clearly.
Our discussion so far shows that, in Buddhism, mindfulness is not a standalone technique to be used only when needed to relieve mental or physical issues, or to achieve specific goals. Rather, it is a holistic path that encompasses every aspect of life, leading to profound transformation.
In my next article, we will examine real-world examples of how secular mindfulness is being applied in ways that contradict the Buddha’s teachings and explore the potential harm that may result.
References
Anālayo, Bhikkhu. 2006. Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization. Penang: Inward Path Publisher.
Bodhi, Bhikkhu. 2011. “What does mindfulness really mean? A canonical perspective.” In Contemporary Buddhism, 12(01), 19–39.
Gethin, Rupert. 2011. “On some definitions of mindfulness.” In Contemporary Buddhism, 12(1), 263-279.
Huxter, Malcolm. 2015. “Mindfulness and the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path.” In E. Shonin, W. Van Gordon, & N. N. Singh (Eds.), Buddhist Foundations of Mindfulness (pp. 29-53). Switzerland: Springer.
Plum Village App Team. 2020. What is McMindfulness and how to avoid it?. Retrieved from https://plumvillage.app/what-is-mcmindfulness/
Wallace, B. Alan. 2010. The Four Immeasurables: Practices to Open the Heart. New York: Snow Lion Publications.
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Buddhist Mindfulness Versus Secular Mindfulness, Part 1
Buddhist Mindfulness Versus Secular Mindfulness, Part 2
