Matthieu Ricard: “Reducing all of Buddhism to mindfulness is far too simplistic”

Ajay0 · Mar 17, 2025

A Vajrayana Buddhist monk of French heritage and a PhD in genetics, Matthieu Ricard is the author of ‘Notebooks of a Wandering Monk’.

Here is an insightful interview with Mattheiu Ricard on Buddhism and mindfulness...

https://www.hindustantimes.com/book...ss-is-far-too-simplistic-101741022589519.html

In Buddhist monasteries and meditation retreats, mindfulness is taught along with compassion and the aspiration to benefit all sentient beings who are suffering. But today, mindfulness is used in military training so that the person killing the enemy can do so without losing focus. How do you feel about this interpretation of mindfulness?

That is not mindfulness in the Buddhist sense. In Buddhist practice, we do not limit ourselves to mindfulness of the present moment but we strive to bring our thoughts, speech and action in harmony with the Buddha’s teachings. That requires constant vigilance.

The teachings offer antidotes that can be applied for freedom from craving, hatred and identification with emotions. For people who blow their fuse, the antidote is patience. For malevolent thoughts, the antidote is benevolence. There are even deeper antidotes for not identifying with the object of anger, stress, and anxiety so that we can experience freedom.

Mindfulness may be just a tool but it is important because it helps you stay alert and awake. Without it, your attention will wander all over the place. You will not achieve anything. But being attentive and non-judgemental is not enough. The technical definition of modern mindfulness is so narrow that even a psychopath could be mindful. According to the Buddha’s teachings, mindfulness is not just awareness. It should be naturally imbued with compassion. It should arise from good intentions, not from the wish to harm or hurt someone.
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Unityatone · Mar 20, 2025

You can also be a wonderful human being with compassion and never heard of Buddhism or followed it.

Reality of existence is what counts less so labels.

Toker · Mar 21, 2025

You can be enlightened without being involved with any particular religion.

Unityatone · Mar 24, 2025

Mindfulness could be a good start and lead onto great existences.

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Matthieu Ricard: “Reducing all of Buddhism to mindfulness is far too simplistic”

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