In recent years, there has been a surge in interest in the practice of awareness (Mindfulness), and many applications for meditation have become popular. However, a philosopher from the University of Copenhagen calls for caution regarding philosophical foundations and possible simplifications in the practice of Mindfulness.
Awareness is gaining popularity in schools, healthcare, and workplaces. Millions of people around the world download meditation applications such as Headspace and Ten Percent Happier.
Odysseus Stone, PH.D., from the University of Copenhagen, believes that many philosophical assumptions about a person and his attitude to the world in the practice of Mindfulness can be dubious and must be carefully studied.
He explains: “One of the key statements of Mindfulness is that we should look at the thoughts and emotions passing through the mind, like clouds floating in the sky… But this quickly becomes very problematic. For example, feelings of anger in the political decisions of the Danish government. Is it useful to consider such emotions as if they were passing clouds with a small meaning or attitude to reality?”
Stone also notes that attention has become one of the most valuable raw materials in the so-called attention economy. Mindfulness focuses on individual control of attention, which can transfer responsibility for structural social problems to the individual.
The approach to the attention of Mindfulness itself is additionally questioned: “Often attention is considered as something like a small spotlight inside the human head, which can be taught to control. However, according to some philosophers and cognitive scientists, this image is completely incorrect. Our attention, to a high degree, depends on our incarnation and is integrated into the material and social context.”
Thus, despite the wide popularity and obvious benefits from the practice of Mindfulness, its philosophical foundations require more thorough consideration, and potential simplifications can cause certain problems and errors.