Cited by 424Indian and Buddhist StudiesMindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPhilosophy and Theoretical Science

Is mindfulness present-centred and non-judgmental? A discussion of the cognitive dimensions of mindfulness

Dreyfus, Georges·2011·Contemporary Buddhism

Abstract

This essay critiques the standard characterization of mindfulness as present-centred non-judgmental awareness, arguing that this account misses some of the central features of mindfulness as described by classical Buddhist accounts, which present mindfulness as being relevant to the past as well as to the present. I show that for these sources the central feature of mindfulness is not its present focus but its capacity to hold its object and thus allow for sustained attention, regardless of whether the object is present or not. I further show that for these sources mindfulness can be explicitly evaluative, thus demonstrating the degree to which classical Buddhist accounts differ from the modern description of mindfulness as non-judgmental. I conclude that although this modern description may be useful as an operational definition intended for practical instruction, it does not provide an adequate basis for a theoretical analysis of mindfulness, for it fails to emphasize its retentive nature to privilege its alleged nonconceptuality.

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Crossref · 10.1080/14639947.2011.564815

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  • Decentering is a key component of mindfulness.

    “A key component is decentering, which refers to a mindset in which thoughts, feelings, and other experiences are seen as transient events that are detached from oneself and that do not reflect reality (Bishop et al., 2004; Dreyfus, 2011).”
  • Awareness was characterised in Buddhist discourse as a continuous monitoring of the totality of the current experience, rather than past or future events.

    “Awareness was characterised in Buddhist discourse as a continuous monitoring of the totality of the current experience, rather than past or future events (Dreyfus, 2011; Cardaciotto et al. 2008; Deikman 1996; Roemer and Orsillo 2003).”

    From Awareness Versus Un-Clinging: Which Matters in Mindfulness? (2017) · cites this paper as Dreyfus, 2011

  • According to Buddhist discourse, it is equally important for an individual to stay in wholesome and in unwholesome mental states while examining the beneficial or detrimental nature of various mental states.

    “According to Buddhist discourse, it is equally important for an individual to stay in wholesome and in unwholesome mental states while examining the beneficial or detrimental nature of various mental states (Mendis 1993; Dreyfus, 2011).”

    From Awareness Versus Un-Clinging: Which Matters in Mindfulness? (2017) · cites this paper as Dreyfus, 2011

  • In the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, mindfulness was described as involving the mind's ability to attend to and retain whatever experience one is engaged in, so as to develop a clear understanding of the experience and the ability to recollect such experiences in the future.

    “In the Satipa ṭṭ hāna Sutta , mindfulness was described in detail as involving 'the mind's ability to attend to and retain whatever experience one is engaged in, so as to develop a clear understanding of the experience and the ability to recollect such experiences in the future' (Dreyfus, 2011, 48).”

    From Awareness Versus Un-Clinging: Which Matters in Mindfulness? (2017) · cites this paper as Dreyfus, 2011

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Authors
Dreyfus, G.
Corresponding author
Dreyfus, Georges
Venue
Contemporary Buddhism
Published
2011-05-01
Volume
12
Issue
1
Pages
41-54
ISSN
  • 1463-9947 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-7953
OpenAlex
W2027526537
Cited by
424
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 40 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 5
FWCI
282.60
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Contemporary Buddhism (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Indian and Buddhist Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
Keywords
mindfulness, non-judgmental awareness, sustained attention

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