Mindfulness is one of the best-known Buddhist practices today. Buddhists of all traditions see it as a means to gain a deeper understanding of reality and thus to provide more inner freedom.
In the last few decades, the cultivation of mindfulness has been lifted from its Buddhist context and has been made available in secular forms, such as anti-stress programs established by Jon Kabat-Zinn. In these secular contexts to be mindful is simply to do things consciously, to be aware of the present moment. From this viewpoint it is important to focus the mind and to intensify the quality of attention in order to meet the challenges in modern society, e.g. work congestion, stress and pervasive communication.
This congress brings together a broad selection from the spectrum of today’s mindfulness practices. It explores the origins and the meaning of mindfulness in the Buddhist context as well as new applications in education, medicine and psychology. The goal is to collect the results of research from different fields and to discuss them in an interdisciplinary venue.
Spectrum of Topics
*Mindfulness in Buddhism: What does „mindfulness“ mean? How did the practice develop and how is it applied in the Buddhist context today? Representatives of Buddhist studies as well as Buddhist practitioners of various traditions will speak on this topic.
* Mindfulness and education: The application of the cultivation of mindfulness in the education of children and adolescents is a new field of research. The congress will explore the possibilities for the practice of mindfulness as an approach to stress reduction and instructional enhancement in schools.
*Mindfulness in medicine and psychology: What can be achieved by the cultivation of mindfulness in order to relieve stress, depression, pain and cancer? Scientists will report on new research and on clinical experience.
*Mindfulness and neuroscience: How does the practice of mindfulness influence the brain, in particular the mindfulness based anti-stress method developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn? How much can it contribute to physical and psychological well-being?
* Mindfulness and ethical responsibility: How can the practice of mindfulness have a positive impact on the conduct/behaviour of the individual and the society as a whole?