Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is modern, more well-recognized, form an ancient meditation practice derived from Buddhist practices. Practitioners focus on being in the present moment to help still the mind and awaken conscious awareness. The practice of this [[[meditation]] method has been used help practitioners achieve enlightenment, or liberation from mind, but there are also practical health benefits, such as conditioning the mind and body to better withstand events that cause stress and increase feelings of well being. Correspondingly, although scientific approaches to the study of meditation have varied, it has become evident that practice of meditation results in improvement of various measures of health. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=hstat1b.section.107855 Although mindfulness meditation had its beginnings within the Buddhist tradition, there are similar practices within Judaism and the Christian traditions.http://www.steps2peace.com/Jewish_Mindfulness_Practice.html The Christian practice is called Centering Prayer. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2147071/centering_prayer_for_stress_management.html?cat=34

This web page has sections on the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program established at the University of Massachusetts and on various forms of mindfulness meditation that have been developed. There is a featured video of a therapist who uses the MBSR program in his practice and another video that illustrates another type of practice where you offer peace during the meditation. There are related links, news and blog sections for further information, and a Mahalo answers section related to past questions on this subject.

Though described slightly differently by Eastern and Western interpreters, mindfulness meditation generally refers to meditation practices that cultivate awareness, acceptance, non-judgment, and require paying attention to the present moment. This category includes Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Vipassana meditation, Zen Buddhist meditation, and other mindfulness meditation practices. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=hstat1b.section.107807

The Center for Mindfulness is directed by Dr. Saki F. Santorelli, author of "Heal Thy Self. Lessons on Mindfulness Medicine. " http://www.amazon.com/Heal-Thy-Self-Mindfulness-Medicine/dp/product-description/0609805045 The Center is within the Department of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Established in 1995 by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, the Center is an out-growth of the Stress Reduction Clinic, the world's first and largest stress reduction program in an academic medical center. The Stress Reduction Clinic was founded in 1979 by Dr. Kabat-Zinn. More than 17,000 people have completed the eight-week MBSR program. http://www.umassmed.edu/Content.aspx?id=42434/ref?