The DOI matches its Crossref record; 4 of the 4 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Toward an understanding of non-dual mindfulness
Abstract
The aim of this article is to explore an approach to ‘mindfulness’ that lies outside of the usual Buddhist mainstream. This approach adopts a ‘non-dual’ stance to meditation practice, and based on my limited experience and training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, this non-dual notion of ‘mindfulness’ seems an especially appropriate point of comparison between Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Buddhism. That comparison itself will not be the focus here—given my own inexpertise and lack of clinical experience, it would be best to leave the comparison to others! Instead, the aim here will be to explore some features of ‘mindfulness’ in the context of non-dual styles of Buddhist practice. To begin, we will assess some difficulties that emerge when one attempts to speak of ‘mindfulness’ in Buddhism. Next, we will turn to the somewhat radical notion of ‘non-dual’ practice in relation to the more mainstream descriptions found in the Buddhist Abhidharma literature. We will then examine some crucial features of Buddhist non-dualism, including attitudes and theories about thoughts and judgments. A brief foray into specific practice instructions will help us to understand the role of ‘mindfulness’ in a specific non-dual tradition called, ‘Mahāmudrā’ (the ‘Great Seal’). Finally, after some reflection on ‘mindfulness’ in the non-dual practice of Mahāmudrā, I will conclude by considering a crucial issue: the context of practice.
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“'Innateism' , in contrast, is based on the idea that the qualities of awakening are already present in an ordinary person's mind: 'progress' is about eliminating the obscurations that cover our innate buddhahood.”
From Spacious Awareness in Mahāyāna Buddhism and Its Role in the Modern Mindfulness Movement (2017) · cites this paper as Dunne 2011
In the citing paper
“Innateism is typical of Mahāyāna Buddhism, and particularly linked to the development of Yogācāra philosophy around the second- or third-century CE.”
From Spacious Awareness in Mahāyāna Buddhism and Its Role in the Modern Mindfulness Movement (2017) · cites this paper as Dunne 2011
In the citing paper
“These two approaches are essentially what is described by Buddhist scholar John Dunne as 'Constructivism' and 'Innateism' .”
From Spacious Awareness in Mahāyāna Buddhism and Its Role in the Modern Mindfulness Movement (2017) · cites this paper as Dunne 2011
In the citing paper
“Constructivism is more typical of the Theravadin approach, and particularly the classical Abhidharma, which sees the path in terms of constructing the qualities to achieve buddhahood (Dunne 2011, 76).”
From Spacious Awareness in Mahāyāna Buddhism and Its Role in the Modern Mindfulness Movement (2017) · cites this paper as Dunne 2011
In the citing paper
“This view underpins particular styles of practice, including Zen and Mahāmudrā, which aim to let go of conventional conceptual structures in order to release the mind into its natural state of clear, non-conceptual awareness (Buddhadharma 2004; Dunne 2011, 81).”
From Spacious Awareness in Mahāyāna Buddhism and Its Role in the Modern Mindfulness Movement (2017) · cites this paper as Dunne 2011
In the citing paper
“Thus the 'non-doing' of Mahāmudrā is seen as requiring extensive preparation involving many 'highly conceptual and effortful' practices (Dunne 2011, 84, 85): settling the mind, understanding emptiness, developing motivation and devotion.”
From Spacious Awareness in Mahāyāna Buddhism and Its Role in the Modern Mindfulness Movement (2017) · cites this paper as Dunne 2011
Citations
Cites
Dreyfus, G. (2011) · Contemporary Buddhism · doi:10.1080/14639947.2011.564815 · Cited by 424
Ganeri, J. (2007) · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199202416.001.0001 · Cited by 148
Healing burns with fire: The facilitations of experience in Tibetan Buddhism
Gyatso, J. (1999) · Journal of the American Academy of Religion · doi:10.1093/jaarel/67.1.113 · Cited by 42
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Cited by
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Van Dam, N. T., van Vugt, M. K., Vago, D. R., Schmalzl, L., Saron, C. D., Olendzki, A., Meissner, T., Lazar, S. W., Kerr, C. E., Gorchov, J., et al. (2018) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/1745691617709589 · Cited by 1,506
Vago, D. R., & Silbersweig, D. A. (2012) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2012.00296 · Cited by 1,310
Reconstructing and deconstructing the self: cognitive mechanisms in meditation practice
Dahl, C. J., Lutz, A., & Davidson, R. J. (2015) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2015.07.001 · Cited by 809
Lutz, A., Jha, A. P., Dunne, J. D., & Saron, C. D. (2015) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/a0039585 · Cited by 697
“The technical interpretation of mindfulness within Buddhism has engendered considerable debate among Buddhist theorists (Dreyfus, 2011; Dunne, 2011; Gethin, 2011; Olendzki, 2011; Teasdale & Chaskalson, 2011a–b), but contemporary accounts from within psychology converge around some key themes.”
BackgroundResultInfluentialSelf-citationFox, K. C. R., Dixon, M. L., Nijeboer, S., Girn, M., Floman, J. L., Lifshitz, M., Ellamil, M., Sedlmeier, P., & Christoff, K. (2016) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.03.021 · Cited by 656
Metadata
- Authors
- Dunne, J.
- Corresponding author
- Dunne, John
- ORCID
- Dunne, John
- Venue
- Contemporary Buddhism
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-05-01
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 71-88
- ISSN
- 1463-9947 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-7953
- OpenAlex
- W2036944224
- Cited by
- 256
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 155.43
- 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 › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices
- Keywords
- Mahamudra, mindfulness-based stress reduction, Abhidharma, meditation practice, practice context
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