Non-striving is an important aspect of mindfulness practice, but it has not been sufficiently researched. This study examines whether a strange loop-based task – Infinite Water Scooping Task – performed for 10 min, has an effect on non-striving behavior and performance in a subsequent word length comparison task. Results showed that performance (number of correct trials) did not differ significantly between the two groups, though the experimental group tended to perform worse. However, participants in the experimental group took a significantly (...) shorter time to respond to the word length comparison task than those in the control group. It is inferred that shorter time taken reflects response without investing much effort to count with care, i.e., non-striving. The present study demonstrates that the brief strange loop task implemented in this study elicited non-striving behavior compared to the effects of the control task, and this adds to the understanding of non-striving in the context of mindfulness. The Infinite Water Scooping Task may be useful for illustrating and teaching non-striving within mindfulness practice. (shrink)

Interest in the Buddhist concept of mindfulness has burgeoned over the last few decades as a result of its application as a therapeutic strategy in mind-body medicine, psychotherapy, psychiatry, education, leadership and management, and a wide range of other theoretical and practical domains. Although many commentators welcome this extension of the range and application of mindfulness—drawing parallels between ancient contemplative traditions and modern secular interpretations—there has been very little analysis of either the philosophical underpinnings of this phenomenon or of its (...) implications for education. This article examines the new interpretations of mindfulness in the following areas—meaning and definition, ethical foundations and spiritual ethos—in an attempt to gain a clearer understanding of what is involved in the process of reconstructing the concept of mindfulness. In conclusion, some implications for learning and education are examined in the light of these recent re-interpretations of mindfulness principles and practices. A central thesis throughout is that—although there are many educational benefits of mindfulness in the areas of moral, affective and spiritual education—such potential gains require the maintenance of organic connections between contemporary practices and their foundations in secular Buddhism. (shrink)

El presente trabajo se propone profundizar en las raíces orientales de la filosofía y práctica de la Atención Plena o Mindfulness con el objetivo de comprender su repercusión y extensión en Occidente, así como su plena integración en el marco de la filosofía perenne. Para ello, nos ocuparemos de determinar los orígenes de Mindfulness en la tradición budista utilizando como fuente principal aquellos autores que han bebido directamente del Canon Pali, y en concreto, examinaremos el sermón denominado Satipatthana Sutta o (...) Sutra de los Fundamentos de la Atención, considerado el corazón y el eje central de la Doctrina de la Mente de Buda. Este análisis, nos permitirá comprender mejor la importante repercusión de estas antiguas enseñanzas en la práctica y filosofía de Mindfulness tal y como está siendo propagado y extendido por Occidente. (shrink)