Mindfulness or Buddhist Spirituality for Sale? A Call for True Independence

By Mo Edjlali, Mindful Leader Founder and CEO

As we reflect on freedom and self-determination, we must examine the state of mindfulness in our society. Our field is experiencing a concerning decline and facing growing criticism. Something is fundamentally off, and this article aims to explore one of the potential reasons contributing to this blowback.

Since 2009, when I became involved in this field, the mindfulness industry has experienced significant growth, benefiting millions while blurring the lines between secular practices and Buddhist traditions. This rapid expansion demands our critical attention and raises an important question: Are we offering mindfulness as a universal means for improved well-being, or are we inadvertently promoting Buddhism under a secular guise?

It's time for mindfulness to address its Buddhist entanglement. This elephant in the room has gone under-addressed. We stand at a pivotal moment where the future of mindfulness depends on its ability to establish itself as a truly secular, independent practice - one that acknowledges its Buddhist roots but remains free from Buddhist dogma, stealth Buddhist influence, or the inappropriate commercialization of spirituality and Buddhist teachings.

The Secular Mindfulness Proposition: Untethering from Buddhism

At Mindful Leader, we believe mindfulness can and should be separated from its Buddhist origins. Mindfulness is an innate human capacity, not the exclusive property of Buddhism. While Buddhist teachings brought mindfulness to prominence and contributed to the foundation of modern mindfulness, it is a universal human trait that belongs to all people.

We advocate for a form of mindfulness that, while acknowledging its Buddhist inspiration, remains truly secular. This approach allows us to draw from diverse influences while maintaining a strictly non-religious framework.

This separation isn't just beneficial for secular practitioners – it's crucial for preserving the integrity of both mindfulness and Buddhism. Prominent scholars have raised important concerns about the current state of mindfulness in secular settings:

Dr. Candy Gunther Brown, Professor of Religious Studies at Indiana University, has criticized "stealth Buddhism" in her book "Debating Yoga and Mindfulness in Public Schools: Reforming Secular Education or Reestablishing Religion?" Her research identifies Buddhist concepts and practices that often infiltrate supposedly secular mindfulness programs, raising questions about religious neutrality in public spaces. Brown's work comprehensively analyzes how ostensibly secular mindfulness programs can subtly introduce religious elements, particularly in educational settings.

Dr. Ron Purser, Professor of Management at San Francisco State University, popularized "McMindfulness" in his book "McMindfulness: How Mindfulness Became the New Capitalist Spirituality." Purser's work examines the commodification and oversimplification of mindfulness practices, arguing that they've been stripped of their ethical and spiritual contexts to serve corporate interests. His critique explores how the mindfulness industry has adapted Buddhist practices to fit a neoliberal, individualistic framework, potentially undermining its transformative potential.

We agree with these scholarly observations: Buddhism should be called Buddhism and taught under its own traditions and ethical frameworks. At the same time, secular mindfulness should not be a watered-down, commercialized version of Buddhist practices.

Mindfulness, in its secular form, should not be Buddhism in disguise. While it can derive insights from Buddhist traditions, it must ultimately be independent. This approach allows us to develop rigorous, evidence-based mindfulness practices accessible to all, regardless of religious beliefs, while avoiding cultural appropriation or spiritual capitalism.

Benefits of Clear Delineation

Selling stealth Buddhism in any form is problematic and goes against the essence of both Buddhist practice and secular mindfulness. We at Mindful Leader stand firmly against commercializing Buddhist teachings disguised as secular mindfulness.

This isn't just about preserving the integrity of mindfulness – it's about maintaining the purity of Buddhism and resisting the creation of a deceptive commercial Buddhist marketplace that dilutes both. This separation between secular mindfulness and Buddhist traditions serves everyone:

• Buddhist traditions retain their depth and richness, free from dilution or misappropriation.
• Secular mindfulness gains the opportunity to develop its own intuitions, teachings, evidence-based practices, and ethical frameworks.
• Practitioners benefit from increased clarity, empowering them to make informed choices about their practice.

The Role of Contemplative Practice and Individual Interpretation

While we advocate for this clear separation, it's important to address the role of contemplative practice and the potential for profound personal experiences within a secular mindfulness context.

Contemplative practices involving deep reflection and introspection are a key component of mindfulness. These practices can lead to significant insights, emotional breakthroughs, or experiences that some might describe as spiritual or transcendent. However, the interpretation of these experiences is deeply personal and subjective.

In our aspiration for secular mindfulness:

• We recognize that individuals may have powerful, contemplative experiences during mindfulness practice.
• We acknowledge that these experiences can be deeply meaningful and potentially life-changing.
• We maintain that it is not our role to interpret or label these experiences for the individual.
• We refrain from coloring these experiences with spiritual or religious overtones.

Our stance is clear: we provide the tools and techniques for mindfulness practice, but the meaning-making process belongs to the individual. Participants may have an experience they consider spiritual, therapeutic, purely mental, or simply an interesting moment of self-discovery. All of these interpretations are valid and respected.

This approach allows for personal autonomy, inclusivity, authenticity, and scientific integrity. We're not claiming that mindfulness is devoid of profound experiences. Rather, we're emphasizing that the individual alone has the right and responsibility to decide what these experiences mean to them.

The Promise of Secular Mindfulness: A Universal Framework for Human Flourishing

Secular mindfulness holds immense potential as a unifying force for humanity. It offers a universal, inclusive framework that transcends borders, political divides, and religious beliefs. By focusing on evidence-based practices and principles, secular mindfulness provides a practical approach to addressing our shared human experiences of suffering and growth.

This approach can bring people together in communities of practice, fostering understanding and compassion across diverse backgrounds. As we face global challenges, secular mindfulness emerges as a beacon of hope - a common language for inner exploration and outer change. It equips us with tools to navigate the complexities of modern life, enhance our well-being, and cultivate resilience.

By embracing secular mindfulness, we open the door to a future where people from all walks of life can unite to pursue greater awareness, empathy, and collective wisdom. This shared practice has the potential to bridge divides, nurture global citizenship, and contribute to solutions for our most pressing societal issues.

It's time to take a bold step forward to fulfill this promise. We must cultivate a new landscape of truly secular and independent mindfulness teaching, institutions, and leadership. While we acknowledge and respect the historical roots of mindfulness in Buddhist traditions, the time has come for secular mindfulness to stand on its own.

We envision mindfulness institutions grounded in science, psychology, and secular ethics, guided by teachers whose expertise stems from rigorous, non-religious training and research. This approach will foster a truly inclusive, secular practice that can resonate with people of all backgrounds and beliefs, free from religious or spiritual prerequisites.

We stand at a critical juncture in human history, facing unprecedented existential threats ranging from the looming climate crisis to the specter of global conflict. Yet, paradoxically, we also find ourselves on the cusp of a technologically enabled age of potential abundance. In this context of extreme challenges and remarkable opportunities, secular mindfulness emerges as a vital tool for cultivating the collective wisdom and resilience necessary to navigate our complex future.

But this can only happen if we have the courage to chart our own course, independent of Buddhism or other dominant religious influences. Secular mindfulness offers a path toward a more conscious, connected, and compassionate world.

As we conclude, we invite you to reflect on two challenging questions:

1. If mindfulness programs in your workplace or community subtly promote Buddhist concepts, are you comfortable with this? How would you feel if it were another religion's teachings being introduced under the guise of secular practice?
2. Can secular mindfulness truly reach its full potential as a unifying force for humanity while remaining tethered to Buddhist traditions and teachers? What might we gain - or lose - by fully separating the two?

Please share your thoughts.

Welcome to our Wackfulness: The unexamined, sometimes silly, side of Mindfulness series, here we delve into critical thinking, alternative perspectives, and exposing collective blind spots in our field. While occasionally provocative, our intention is never to insult or disrespect beliefs. Join us for an honest debate where we aspire to grow and stay true to our shared intention.