Mindfulness as a secular spirituality
pp. 101-111
in: Manu Bazzano (ed), After mindfulness, Berlin, Springer, 2014Abstract
While a secular form of mindfulness may well be an effective problem-solving technique, it is incapable of addressing the more fundamental spiritual needs of the contemporary West; indeed, if it is taken as an ethic to live by, it is liable to make matters worse rather than better. Hence, this chapter will begin with some brief, general observations on the spiritual landscape of the West over the last hundred years, before considering mindfulness and its particular appeal in the contemporary Western world. In the final section, the limitations and potential dangers of mindfulness as a spiritual philosophy will be examined.