Mindfulness-based interventions: what more can the West learn from Buddhism? A fieldwork study.

People who attended a 30-day Lam Rim meditation retreat and had exposure to both traditional Buddhism and Western mindfulness described differences between the two approaches. They found the Western definition of mindfulness unclear compared to specific Buddhist understandings. Western applications focused narrowly on health and productivity, while traditional Buddhism offered a broader life philosophy. Participants identified Buddhist concepts—impermanence, mind science, the Four Noble Truths, emptiness, dependent arising, and compassion—as potentially helpful for enriching Western mindfulness-based interventions. Some concepts, like compassion, already have secular frameworks, but further integration of deeper Buddhist perspectives could promote holistic mental health within a non-religious framework.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Mindfulness has been adopted from its origins in Buddhist philosophy and is now widely applied in Western psychology. Existing research suggests this has been beneficial. The aim of this study is to identify possible areas for further integration of Buddhist approaches into current mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) from the perspective of individuals from a range of geographical areas who have had exposure to mindfulness and traditional Buddhism. Participants were attendees of a 30-day Lam Rim meditation retreat. Data collection involved an online survey (n = 42) and subsequent follow-up semi-structured interviews (n = 11). Qualitative thematic analysis was used to explore the differences between traditional Buddhist and Western Psychological approaches to mindfulness and how Buddhist understandings might be further integrated into Western MBIs. Participants noted that the Western definition of mindfulness remained unclear compared to specific Buddhist understandings of mindfulness. While Western applications of mindfulness often focused narrowly on health and productivity outcomes, traditional Buddhist perspectives offered a broader worldview encompassing a life philosophy. Some broader Buddhist concepts and practices identified by participants as potentially helpful to the West include impermanence, Buddhist mind science, the Four Noble Truths, emptiness, dependent arising, and compassion. Some of the identified concepts and practices such as compassion have already been developed into detailed secular frameworks, but further integration is possible. Future research could also continue secularizing deeper Buddhist perspectives, such as Buddhist mind science, to enrich mindfulness practices and promote holistic mental health and well-being while maintaining a non-religious framework.