Introduction to Mindfulness

A variety of interpretations of mindfulness can be found these days in both secular and Buddhist contexts, for example, mindfulness presented as non-judgmental present-moment awareness in secular mindfulness-based trainings, and mindfulness as attention to sensations and thoughts in insight meditation presented in various ways in the Theravada tradition.

In this course we offer a basic training in mindfulness in accordance with its presentation in the Tibetan Gelug tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa. With Lama Tsongkhapa’s definition of mindfulnessas a basis, we can relate mindfulness to the development of concentration and of wisdom. Mindfulness is also shown not to contradict conceptual thought. In this way we can more easily discover the differences and the common ground between this presentation of mindfulness with other popular notions and Theravada practices.