Mindfulness Talks
Mindfulness is the cognitive skill, usually developed through meditation, of sustaining meta-attention of 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 past, present and future moments 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.
Title | Speaker | |
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August 3rd, 1991, Serial No. 00971, Side B Renunciation, Four Noble Truths, Mindfulness, Mill Valley, Four Foundations, Anger,... |
Aug 03 1991 |
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1991.03.02-serial.00150 Fundraising, Offering, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Mindfulness, Lineage, Tassajara, Describe... |
Mar 02 1991 |
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GenjokoanSerial: BZ-01517B Mindfulness of Forms, Rohatsu Day 3 Mindfulness, Instruction, Offering, Dogen, Composure, Bowing, Duality, Samsara,... |
Dec 04 1990 Berkeley Zen Center |
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November 14th, 1990, Serial No. 00261 Precepts, Concentration, Four Noble Truths, Bodhisattva Precepts, Politics, training... |
Nov 14 1990 |
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The Eightfold PathSerial: BZ-00695A One-Day Sitting Eightfold Path, Concentration, Right Speech, Mindfulness, Four Noble Truths, Right... |
Nov 11 1990 Berkeley Zen Center |
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November 1st, 1990, Serial No. 00259 Manjushri, Vows, Mindfulness, Five Ranks, Dragons, Equanimity, Attachment, Birth-and-... |
Nov 01 1990 |
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May 5th, 1990, Serial No. 00507, Side B Conversation, Soto Zen, Aspects of Practice, Mindfulness, Emotions, Lay, Enthusiasm,... |
May 05 1990 |
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February 17th, 1990, Serial No. 00498, Side B Mill Valley, Bell, Practice Period, Conversation, Priest, Karma, Discrimination,... |
Feb 17 1990 |
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How to Start the New YearSerial: BZ-00502B Saturday Lecture New Year, Concentration, Mindfulness, Equanimity, Daily Life, Enthusiasm, Anger, New... |
Jan 06 1990 Berkeley Zen Center |
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June 3rd, 1989, Serial No. 00374 Concentration, Buddha Nature, Mindfulness, Interdependence, Intuition, Passions,... |
Jun 03 1989 |
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June 3rd, 1989, Serial No. 00675 Concentration, Buddha Nature, Mindfulness, Interdependence, Intuition, Passions,... |
Jun 03 1989 |
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Mumonkan: Case #12Serial: BZ-00373A "Master?" "Yes.", One-Day Sitting MM-12, Samadhi, Birth-and-Death, Demons, Buddha Nature, Fox, Separation, Daily Life,... |
May 20 1989 Berkeley Zen Center |
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February 24th, 1989, Serial No. 00717Serial: BZ-00717 Sesshin Day 7 Birth-and-Death, Observe, Bell, Impermanence, Happiness, Liberation, Mindfulness,... |
Feb 24 1989 |
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February 23rd, 1989, Serial No. 00716 Four Foundations, Ego, Peace, Subject-and-Object, Mindfulness, Liberation, Buddha... |
Feb 23 1989 |
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Mindfulness and Ego-ConsciousnessSerial: BZ-01518A Sesshin Day 6 Mindfulness, Storehouse Consciousness, Four Foundations, Subject-and-Object,... |
Feb 23 1989 |
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Effort During SesshinSerial: BZ-00326 Sesshin Day 5 Effort, Sesshin, Equanimity, Concentration, Repentance, Big Mind, resistance,... |
Feb 22 1989 |
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Mindfulness of FeelingsSerial: BZ-00328 Sesshin Day 4 Four Foundations, Mindfulness, Emotions, Happiness, Enthusiasm, Don't Know Mind... |
Feb 21 1989 |
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January 9th, 1989, Serial No. 00327Serial: BZ-00327 Monday Evening Happiness, Enemies, Passions, Practice Period, Emotions, Equanimity, Mindfulness,... |
Jan 09 1989 |
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GenjokoanSerial: BZ-00898A One-Day Sitting Genjokoan, Heart Sutra, Big Mind, Obstacles, Bowing, Samadhi, Chanting, Concentration... |
Apr 24 1988 Berkeley Zen Center |
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April 17th, 1988, Serial No. 00300Serial: BZ-00300 Sunday Lecture Mindfulness, Offering, Greed, Separation, Hate, Building, training, Ego |
Apr 17 1988 |
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February 22nd, 1988, Serial No. 01533 Posture, resistance, Composure, Concentration, Mindfulness |
Feb 22 1988 |
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January 16th, 1988, Serial No. 00901, Side B Posture, resistance, Sanctuary, Addiction, confusion, Concentration, Mindfulness,... |
Jan 16 1988 |
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January 13th, 1988, Serial No. 00302Serial: BZ-00302 Wednesday Lecture Passions, Mindfulness, Practice Period, Building, Offering, Aspects of Practice,... |
Jan 13 1988 |
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December 10th, 1987, Serial No. 00307Serial: BZ-00307 Sesshin Day 3 Renunciation, Priest, Forgiveness, Intuition, Patience, Interview, Silence, Happiness... |
Dec 10 1987 |
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August 18th, 1987, Serial No. 00720Serial: BZ-00720 Sesshin Day 4 Ego, Don't Know Mind, Judgement, Building, confusion, Mindfulness, Separation... |
Aug 18 1987 |
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July 12th, 1987, Serial No. 01489 Pure Existence, Daily Life, Mindfulness, Offering, training, Anger |
Jul 12 1987 |
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Zen Flesh/Zen Bones: DokusanSerial: BZ-00887 Saturday Lecture Dokusan, Instruction, Interview, Daily Life, Beginners, Rinzai, Intuition, Hindrances... |
Mar 21 1987 Berkeley Zen Center |
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March 4th, 1987, Serial No. 00334Serial: BZ-00334 Sesshin Day 5 Concentration, Doubt, Posture, Equanimity, Mindfulness, Silent Illumination, Nirvana... |
Mar 04 1987 |
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March 2nd, 1987, Serial No. 00333, Side ASerial: BZ-00333A Sesshin Day 3 Concentration, Mindfulness, Equanimity, Building, Anger, Harmonizing, Commitment,... |
Mar 02 1987 |
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January 10th, 1987, Serial No. 00561Serial: BZ-00561 Lecture Practice Period, Half-Smile, Daily Life, Pure Existence, Aspects of Practice,... |
Jan 10 1987 Unknown Location |
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Introductory Lecture realization, Silence, Zendo, Daily Life, Mindfulness, Happiness, Freedom, Peace... |
1987 |