Humanistic Mindfulness: A Bridge Between Traditional and Modern Mindfulness in Schools

Mindfulness, which originated in the Buddhist tradition, has become popular in the West and has been integrated into schools. During this migration from a particular-traditional-religious context into a universal-modern-secular one, mindfulness has shed key ethical values and became a “science of happiness.” In addition, in the West it has taken on diverse interpretations, such that the original concept has become unclear. Thus, it is important to understand mindfulness in its original form before its implementation in schools. The gap between West and East can be bridged by incorporating important elements from traditional Buddhism—meditation, wisdom, and moral virtues, into Western mindfulness. Humanistic education already has similar elements incorporated into it and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs have the potential to be the practical tool through which this holistic concept of mindfulness may be applied. In this manner, mindfulness in schools will be even more compatible with educational goals.