MIDDLE WAY: An Expanded Concept of Mindfulness in Psychotherapy

This is a presentation delivered at the 2nd Asian Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Conference in Bangkok on 20th October, 2008.

Abstract: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be efficacious for treatment of a wide range of psychological disorders. In the last two decades, there has been a fruitful integration of Buddhist thoughts and practices in CBT through the concept of mindfulness. But in the western literature, the integration of the mindfulness concept is rather narrow, and does not reflect the complexity of mindfulness as in Buddhism. Mindfulness is actually only one of the eight spiritual practice guidelines of the Middle Way, a pan-Buddhist principle for overcoming sufferings and generating happiness. Therefore, this article will highlight the lesser known aspect of mindfulness (Right Mindfulness) in the Middle Way, its synergistic relationship with the other seven practice guidelines i.e. Right Speech, Action, Livelihood, Effort, Concentration, Thought, View, and their potential application in an evidence-based CBT approach.