Mindfulness Talks
Mindfulness is the cognitive skill, usually developed through meditation, of sustaining meta-attentive awareness towards the contents of one's own mind in the present moment. Mindfulness derives from sati, a significant element of Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and is based on Zen, Vipassanā, and Tibetan meditation techniques. Though definitions and techniques of mindfulness are wide-ranging, Buddhist traditions describe what constitutes mindfulness, such as how perceptions of the past, present and future arise and cease as momentary sense-impressions and mental phenomena. Individuals who have contributed to the popularity of mindfulness in the modern Western context include Thích Nhất Hạnh, Joseph Goldstein, Herbert Benson, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Richard J. Davidson.
Clinical psychology and psychiatry since the 1970s have developed a number of therapeutic applications based on mindfulness for helping people experiencing a variety of psychological conditions. Mindfulness practice has been employed to reduce depression, stress, anxiety, and in the treatment of drug addiction. Programs based on mindfulness models have been adopted within schools, prisons, hospitals, veterans' centers, and other environments, and mindfulness programs have been applied for additional outcomes such as for healthy aging, weight management, athletic performance, helping children with special needs, and as an intervention during early pregnancy.
Clinical studies have documented both physical- and mental-health benefits of mindfulness in different patient categories as well as in healthy adults and children. Studies have shown a positive relationship between trait mindfulness (which can be cultivated through the practice of mindfulness-based interventions) and psychological health. The practice of mindfulness appears to provide therapeutic benefits to people with psychiatric disorders, including moderate benefits to those with psychosis. Studies also indicate that rumination and worry contribute to a variety of mental disorders, and that mindfulness-based interventions can enhance trait mindfulness and reduce both rumination and worry. Further, the practice of mindfulness may be a preventive strategy to halt the development of mental-health problems. Mindfulness practices have been said to enable individuals to respond more effectively to stressful situations by helping them strike the balance between over-identification and suppression of their emotional experiences by finding the middle point which is recognition and acceptance.
Evidence suggests that engaging in mindfulness meditation may influence physical health. For example, the psychological habit of repeatedly dwelling on stressful thoughts appears to intensify the physiological effects of the stressor (as a result of the continual activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis) with the potential to lead to physical-health-related clinical manifestations. Studies indicate that mindfulness meditation, which brings about reductions in rumination, may alter these biological clinical pathways. Further, research indicates that mindfulness may favorably influence the immune system as well as inflammation, which can consequently impact physical health, especially considering that inflammation has been linked to the development of several chronic health conditions. Other studies support these findings.
Critics have questioned both the commercialization and the over-marketing of mindfulness for health benefits—as well as emphasizing the need for more randomized controlled studies, for more methodological details in reported studies and for the use of larger sample-sizes. While mindfulness-based interventions may be effective for youth, research has not determined methods in which mindfulness could be introduced and delivered in schools.
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2012.08.01-serial.00144 Bodhidharma, Teacher-and-Student, Dharma Transmission, Subject-and-Object, Ego,... |
Aug 01 2012 |
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Deep Time and Precepts TimeSerial: TL-00266 ADZG Sunday Morning, Bell, Monastic Practice, Ceremony, Practice Period, Mindfulness |
Jul 01 2012 ADZG Temple |
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Practice Period AdmonitionsSerial: BZ-02242 Peaceful Abiding, One-Day Sitting Karma, Shuso, Ceremony, Effort, Admonitions, Practice Period, Daily Life, Family... |
May 12 2012 Berkeley Zen Center |
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A Family Style for Realizing the Oneness of All Families true dharma, Precepts, Lay, Mindfulness |
Mar 10 2012 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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Mindfulness Mindfulness, Four Foundations, Posture, Peace, Emotions, Cultivation, Equanimity,... |
Feb 25 2012 |
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Suffering and Delight - Darlene Cohen Mindfulness, training, Book of Serenity, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Priest,... |
Feb 11 2012 |
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No Gaining Mind Amidst UndulationsSerial: BZ-02228 Big Mind and Shikantaza, Saturday Lecture Nirvana, Time, Letting Go, Teacher-and-Student, Gaining Mind, Teacher-and-Student,... |
Feb 04 2012 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Zazen and the Seven Factors of EnlightenmentSerial: BZ-02227 Beneficial Attachment, One-Day Sitting Passive and Active Zazen
Shikantaza, Posture, Breath, Zazen, Monkey Mind, Concentration, Big Mind, Mindfulness... |
Jan 21 2012 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sitting With The Busy Mind Concentration, Right Effort, Composure, Posture, Impermanence, Mindfulness, Gratitude... |
Dec 06 2011 |
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Being Time Beginners, Ordination, Mindfulness, Buddha Nature, Priest, Funeral, Gratitude,... |
Dec 05 2011 |
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Sesshin Practice Monkey Mind, Concentration, Big Mind, Buddha Nature, Aspects of Practice, Mindfulness... |
Dec 04 2011 |
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The Bodhisattva's Creativity and Freedom Letting Go, Mindfulness, Breath, Practice Period |
Nov 17 2011 The Yoga Room |
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Encountering Form in Daily Life Heart Sutra, Aspects of Practice, Offering, Intimacy, Bell, Mindfulness, Vow,... |
Oct 08 2011 |
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Breathing Mindfulness, Zazen Mind, Four Foundations, Instruction, Concentration, Rinzai,... |
Jul 23 2011 |
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Pulling Out The Thorn Ordinary Mind, Four Noble Truths, Attachment, Daily Life, Tassajara Zen Mountain... |
Jul 16 2011 |
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Zazenshin Lojong and Real Life Practice Period, Instruction, training, Mindfulness, Teacher-and-Student, Hindrances... |
Jun 04 2011 |
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India and Community Karma, Culture, Mindfulness, training, Patience, Chanting, Conversation, Instruction... |
Mar 26 2011 |
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On Race and Buddhism American, New Year, Duality, Mindfulness, Culture, Interdependence, Bodhisattva Vow,... |
Jan 08 2011 |
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Living Authentically Buddha Nature, Dream World, Passions, training, Mindfulness, Separation, Sanctuary,... |
Dec 04 2010 |
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Maha Parinirvana Sutra Mindfulness, Aspects of Practice, Funeral, Vinaya, Happiness, Practice Period,... |
Nov 06 2010 |
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Mindfulness Mindfulness, Hindrances, Anger, Four Noble Truths, Daily Life, Four Foundations,... |
Nov 04 2010 |
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Sattipathana Sutta Emotions, Mindfulness, Four Foundations, Passions, Anger, Intimacy, Daily Life,... |
Oct 28 2010 |
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Vitakkarasanthana Sutra Happiness, Instruction, Aspects of Practice, Mindfulness, Hindrances, Evil,... |
Oct 16 2010 |
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Empty Mindfulness Mindfulness, Big Mind, Aspects of Practice, Instruction, Buddha Mind, Bodhidharma,... |
Oct 09 2010 |
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I Love Zazen and Zazen Loves Me Mindfulness, Anger, Bodhisattva Ceremony, Manjushri, Karma, Ego, Concentration,... |
Sep 25 2010 |
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Right LivelihoodSerial: TL-00220 ADZG Monday Night, Right Effort, Right Speech, Mindfulness, Daily Life, Bodhisattva Precepts |
Sep 06 2010 ADZG Temple |
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2010.08.07-serial.00124 Precepts, Meditation, training, Sangha, Monastic Practice, Vow, Mindfulness, Samadhi... |
Aug 07 2010 |
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We Must Eat Time Four Foundations, Dependent Origination, Mindfulness, Heart Sutra, Happiness, Nirvana... |
Jul 03 2010 |
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Composure and Composition Composure, Four Noble Truths, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Mindfulness, Practice... |
Jun 05 2010 |
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We Always Practice Under RestrictionSerial: BZ-02072 Ability and Disability, Rohatsu Day 5 Zazen, confusion, Funeral, Posture, Instruction, Karma, Forgiveness, Beginners,... |
Dec 10 2009 Berkeley Zen Center |
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The Seven Factors of RealizationSerial: BZ-02069 Mindfulness, Rohatsu Day 2 Tozan, Guishan, Yunyen, Seven Factors of Enlightenment, Bell, Subject-and-Object,... |
Dec 07 2009 Berkeley Zen Center |
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ZazenSerial: BZ-02068 Seven Factors of Awakening, Rohatsu Day 1 Practice Enlightenment, Mindfulness, Effort, Dogen, Concentration, Equanimity,... |
Dec 06 2009 Berkeley Zen Center |
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On Enlightenment and Delusion Silence, Posture, Karmic Consciousness, Mindfulness |
Nov 19 2009 The Yoga Room |
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Practicing Three Thousand Worlds in a single Thought-momentSerial: TL-00197 ADZG Monday Night, Lotus Sutra, Patience, Six Realms, Mindfulness, Religion |
Nov 09 2009 ADZG Temple |
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Summary of Practice Ego, Instruction, Mindfulness, War, Bodhisattva Ceremony, Vow, Enthusiasm, Diversity... |
Sep 12 2009 |
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August 28th, 2009, Serial No. 01549, Side E Culture, Precepts, American, Religion, Soto Zen, Diversity, Mindfulness, Dharma... |
Aug 28 2009 |
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August 28th, 2009, Serial No. 01549, Side F Culture, American, Transmission, Religion, Lineage, Conversation, Priest, Zazen Mind... |
Aug 28 2009 |
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The Four Foundations of Mindfulness Mindfulness, Posture, Hindrances, Anger, Priest, Concentration, Subject-and-Object,... |
Aug 08 2009 |
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Present Moment Awareness Ordinary Mind, Mindfulness, Enthusiasm, Cultivation, Passions, Practice Period,... |
May 30 2009 |
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Five Hindrances - Especially Restlessness Concentration, Hindrances, Forgiveness, Anger, Don't Know Mind, Avalokiteshvara... |
Apr 11 2009 |
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Japanese culture and engaged BuddhismSerial: TL-00183 ADZG Monday Night, Rinzai, Mindfulness, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Vimalakirti, Religion |
Mar 09 2009 ADZG Temple |
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Platform Sutra. Hui Neng. Commentary on Poem in Section on PraianaSerial: BZ-01083B Rohatus, Day 7, second tape Attachment, Karma, Ego, Big Mind, Non-attachment, Hindrances, Continuous Practice,... |
Dec 13 2008 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Zen Mind Beginner's Mind,: Right Effort; Serial No. 01069Serial: BZ-01069 Sesshin Aspects of Practice, Zen Mind Beginner's Mind, Right Effort, Right Effort,... |
Oct 19 2008 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Buddha Sitting as Us; Us Sitting as Buddha Funeral, Emptiness, Mindfulness, Precepts, confusion |
Oct 18 2008 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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Buddha Sitting as Us; Us Sitting as Buddha Lotus Sutra, Emptiness, War, Mindfulness |
Oct 18 2008 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Practicing the Four Frames of Mindfulness as Gates to Totality Mindfulness, confusion, Attachment, Breath |
Sep 06 2008 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Twelve Links of Interdependent Co-ArisingSerial: BZ-01155A Pratitya Samutpada, Teaching Retreat Anger, Greed, Karma, Renunciation, Ego, Hindrances, Mindfulness, Emotions, Skandas,... |
Aug 31 2008 Part 1 of 2 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Twelve Links as Conditioned By Delusion and True MindsSerial: BZ-01156A Twelve Links, Continued from morning session, Teaching Retreat Dependent Origination, Dependent Origination, Karma, Mindfulness, Ego, Attachment,... |
Aug 31 2008 Part 2 of 2 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Dependent OriginationSerial: BZ-01153 Four Noble Truths; Birth & Death of Self, Teaching Retreat Four Noble Truths, Birth-and-Death, Dependent Origination, Dependent Origination,... |
Aug 30 2008 Part 1 of 2 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Fath of DelusionSerial: BZ-01154A Teaching Retreat Birth-and-Death, Mindfulness, Attachment, Buddha Mind, Karma, Four Noble Truths,... |
Aug 30 2008 Part 2 of 2 Berkeley Zen Center |