マインドフルネス・ムーブメントの思想背景に関する考察 : 1

The “mindfulness movement” refers to the movement in which the Buddhist concept of mindfulness has come to be widely practiced and popularized in contemporary society; this study aims to explore its ideological background. The paper first investigate s how people today perceive, understand, and practice mindfulness The study revealed that the meaning and practice of contemporary mindfulness is diverse, yet its benefits are confirmed and well received. Considering this diversity, I classified modern mindfulness into two categories : 1) mindfulness introduced into non Buddhist fields such as psychology and medical care, and 2) mindfulness inherited from Buddha's teachings , which I call here Modern Secular Mindfulness (MSM) and Modern Buddhist Mindfulness (MBM), respectively. The paper then explores mindfulness and its philosophy as taught by two prominent figures who represent each of the above types of mindfulness . First, for MSM, Jon Kabat-Zinn, an American professor emeritus of medicine, scientist, and meditation instructor, and his development of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) are discussed. Next, regarding MBM, the paper examines the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Zen monk, scholar, and peace activist who is considered the leading figure in introducing mindfulness to the West. The final chapter explores early Buddhist mindfulness and compares it with modern mindfulness. Consequently, it is apparent that Nhat Hanh’s MBM is firmly rooted in Buddha's teachings while adapting them for the contemporary society. Kabat Zinn's MSB, on the other hand, removes the religious elements and is not taught as Buddha's teachings. However, its practice incorporates Buddha's mindfulness and is certainly beneficial to individuals in many ways. Buddha’s teachings from over 2,500 years have been passed on to the present day, regardless of country, culture, or religion, and even in secular settings, contributing to peace and happiness in the modern society.