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Dialectics of mindfulness: implications for western medicine

Dialectics of mindfulness: implications for western medicine
Dialectics of mindfulness: implications for western medicine
Mindfulness as a clinical and nonclinical intervention for a variety of symptoms has recently received a substantial amount of interest. Although the application of mindfulness appears straightforward and its effectiveness is well supported, the concept may easily be misunderstood. This misunderstanding may severely limit the benefit of mindfulness-based interventions. It is therefore necessary to understand that the characteristics of mindfulness are based on a set of seemingly paradoxical structures. This article discusses the underlying paradox by disentangling it into five dialectical positions - activity vs. passivity, wanting vs. non-wanting, changing vs. non-changing, non-judging vs. non-reacting, and active acceptance vs. passive acceptance, respectively. Finally, the practical implications for the medical professional as well as potential caveats are discussed.
10
Sauer, Sebastian
d56ac465-4327-4199-bbf3-dd36522004dd
Lynch, Siobhan
1432be4a-0a45-4bf1-b2df-d9ad3a064b73
Walach, Harald
b6c1f873-105c-4825-9b9b-2a3cf9dc4fb2
Kohls, Niko
b0b7fdf1-8ca9-4d9f-878b-322f402b4b1d
Sauer, Sebastian
d56ac465-4327-4199-bbf3-dd36522004dd
Lynch, Siobhan
1432be4a-0a45-4bf1-b2df-d9ad3a064b73
Walach, Harald
b6c1f873-105c-4825-9b9b-2a3cf9dc4fb2
Kohls, Niko
b0b7fdf1-8ca9-4d9f-878b-322f402b4b1d

Sauer, Sebastian, Lynch, Siobhan, Walach, Harald and Kohls, Niko (2011) Dialectics of mindfulness: implications for western medicine. Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine, 6 (1), 10. (doi:10.1186/1747-5341-6-10).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Mindfulness as a clinical and nonclinical intervention for a variety of symptoms has recently received a substantial amount of interest. Although the application of mindfulness appears straightforward and its effectiveness is well supported, the concept may easily be misunderstood. This misunderstanding may severely limit the benefit of mindfulness-based interventions. It is therefore necessary to understand that the characteristics of mindfulness are based on a set of seemingly paradoxical structures. This article discusses the underlying paradox by disentangling it into five dialectical positions - activity vs. passivity, wanting vs. non-wanting, changing vs. non-changing, non-judging vs. non-reacting, and active acceptance vs. passive acceptance, respectively. Finally, the practical implications for the medical professional as well as potential caveats are discussed.

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More information

Published date: 17 May 2011
Organisations: Medical Education

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Local EPrints ID: 370078
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/370078
PURE UUID: 5a80dc80-8bb2-4096-9d1e-9eda2be46e04

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Date deposited: 14 Oct 2014 13:02
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 18:12

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Contributors

Author: Sebastian Sauer
Author: Siobhan Lynch
Author: Harald Walach
Author: Niko Kohls

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