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With the increasing popularity of secular a variety of approaches. However, it’s important to do so
mindfulness practices, how do you navigate with integrity, ensuring that the core teachings are not
the balance between preserving the traditional distorted or diluted.
teachings of the Buddha and making them
accessible to a broader audience? Emphasize Ethics: While secular mindfulness often
emphasizes self-care and well-being, it’s important
Navigating the balance between preserving the to also highlight the ethical dimension of Buddhist
traditional teachings of the Buddha and making them practice. This includes cultivating compassion, kindness,
accessible to a broader audience in the context of generosity, and ethical conduct towards oneself and
increasing popularity of secular mindfulness practices others. By integrating ethics into mindfulness, we
involves several key strategies: promote a more holistic and socially engaged practice.

Acknowledge the Distinction: It’s important to recognize Offer a Gradual Path: For those interested in exploring the
that secular mindfulness and traditional Buddhist deeper aspects of Buddhist mindfulness, it’s helpful to
mindfulness, while sharing some practices, have offer a gradual path of learning and practice. This could
different goals. Secular mindfulness often focuses on involve introducing basic mindfulness techniques first,
stress reduction, well-being, and personal growth, while then gradually introducing more advanced teachings
traditional Buddhist mindfulness aims for liberation on emptiness, dependent origination, and the nature of
from suffering and spiritual awakening. mind. This allows individuals to progress at their own
pace and deepen their understanding over time.
Respect the Roots: When teaching or practicing
mindfulness, it’s crucial to acknowledge its origins in Foster Dialogue and Understanding: Encourage open
Buddhist philosophy and psychology. This includes dialogue between secular and traditional practitioners,
explaining concepts like the Four Noble Truths, the creating spaces for sharing experiences, insights,
Eightfold Path, and the interconnected nature of and perspectives. This can foster mutual respect,
all beings. By honoring the roots, we avoid cultural understanding, and collaboration, ultimately enriching
appropriation and provide context for deeper both traditions.
understanding.
By navigating this balance with care and respect, we
Adapt with Integrity: To make mindfulness accessible, can make the transformative power of mindfulness
we can adapt language and techniques to suit a accessible to a wider audience while preserving the
secular audience. This may involve using less religious richness and depth of its Buddhist roots.
terminology, focusing on practical benefits, and offering

Ven. Huimin taught ‘The Manual of Teaching and Practicing Meditation Ven. Huimin was a keynote speaker at the Retrospective and Prospective
through the Six Doors’ in Malaysia. (15-16.8.2018) International Academic Conference on the Digitization of Buddhist
Studies Resources in Taiwan.