The Foundations of Mindfulness: How to Cultivate Tranquility, Attention, and Good Judgment

The Satipatthana Sutta, an ancient Buddhist text, serves as springboard for Harrison’s exploration of mindfulness (sati in the original Pali language). Harrison (Teach Yourself to Meditate in 10 Simple Lessons), founder of the Perth Meditation Centre in Australia, takes a briskly secular approach to the classic teachings, which he believes reflect the Buddha’s original intent more accurately than some current understandings; what Harrison calls “Modern Mindfulness” has shifted, he asserts, from “discriminating attention” to “nonjudgmental acceptance,” which he attributes in part to the influence of Zen and Tibetan Buddhist approaches. Focusing on the key task of paying attention, Harrison investigates the four “foundations of mindfulness” (body, emotion, states of mind, and thought) within the context of helping people meet their psychological goals rather than advocating a spiritual path. More an analytical study than a how-to guide, Harrison’s treatment covers a range of topics of interest to the intermediate or advanced practitioner, including distinctions between meditation and mindfulness, precisely defined meditative states, the body schema, valence, past translations of the sutta, and the scientific evidence (or lack thereof) for mindfulness’s effectiveness. Some practices are included, such as body scans and “The Miraculous Sigh.” Harrison is an opinionated (and occasionally verbose) guide; his views may provoke disagreement, but he brings clear thinking, practical wisdom, and welcome rigor to the widely popular concept of mindfulness. (Apr.)