Mindfulness of Breathing

Abstract

This chapter explores mindfulness. As a Buddhist technique, mindfulness involves sustained attention to particular things in special ways in order to change how an individual experiences the world. The Buddhist concept of mindfulness includes not just attention, but also what we would call memory. To represent this connection with memory, many scholars use the term “retention” instead. This captures the idea of not only fixing attention on something but also keeping it there. There is a wide range of mindfulness techniques. A very common beginning exercise is centered on breathing. Indeed, it is a technique that has become widely taught and practiced outside of Buddhist circles. As such, it will be important to highlight how it works when done as a distinctly Buddhist practice.