A meditation teacher who is known as a guru of mindfulness has described how it can help us deal with fear and aversion. The Grenfell Tower tragedy, which has taken the world by storm, is partly attributable to the absence of mindfulness and deep listening. Decision makers showed apathy to the complaints of residents, but Kabat-Zinn was born into an unconventional family, and was raised in rough areas of Washington Heights and upper Manhattan.
During the early 2000s, Jon Kabat-Zinn took a step back from the MBSR movement and passed it on to Saki Santorelli, who is a mindfulness expert and author of the book, Heal Thy Self. While the MBSR program is based on science, Kabat-Zinn is still a key figure in the field. His writings and meditation programs have paved the way for it to become more accessible and a part of society.
The ultimate understanding of mindfulness goes beyond the conventional subject-object duality. Rather, it is a way of being and seeing, which involves paradox and paradoxical ideas. It’s not a way to get anywhere or fix anything, but a process. In this way, it is possible to cultivate mindfulness in everyday life, even if the ultimate goal is a simple meditative state.
Using the concept of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn defined it as “awareness that arises from the present moment.” In practice, this awareness is applied to self-realization and self-understanding. People attending mindfulness classes often have an expectation that mindfulness is a rare or unique practice. The truth is that everyone is mindful, at least to a certain extent. It’s our innate ability to become aware of the present.
