Mindfulness - Throwing the Baby Out with the Bathwater?

The West Wight Sangha subscribes to Tricycle magazine and as such have access to their excellent website. There is currently an on-line discussion on Western Buddhism which is particularly relevant as we have also been discussing the current trend for simplified, sanitised mindfulness stripped of its Buddhist roots......

In "Buddhist Training for Modern Life" (Interview, Spring 2012), Segyu Rinpoche, the founder of the Juniper School, discusses how Juniper is extending the lineage of Buddhist transmission in a way that is suited to a Western understanding. In this community discussion we will be exploring culturally appropriate ways to transmit Buddhist teachings to Westerners. How do we avoid, on one side, the danger of mimicking cultural artefacts that have little meaning in a new place and, on the other side, losing the potency of the tradition? What is the benefit of holding a lineage for ourselves and others, and how do we meet the responsibility of doing so?

Follow the discussion HERE.