Mindfulness, attention and kindness. — B. Alan Wallace
Note from Susan: I received the following email from Alan Wallace, a long-time member of the InnerKids Board of Advisors, who I greatly admire for the depth of his understanding of Buddhist texts, and on whose expertise I have come to rely in keeping our secular program grounded in traditional training. He suggests a meaningful clarification to the somewhat provocative statement in my previous post “attention training without kindness and compassion is not mindfulness.” I genuinely appreciate his perspective and wanted to share it with you.
No one has the authority to tell others what “mindfulness” REALLY means, for it is defined in different ways by different people in different contexts. The world of language and definitions is free and open to innovation. So, while I deeply appreciate the fact that you are including kindness and compassion in your meditation training, the statement that “Attention training without kindness and compassion just isn’t mindfulness.” has little basis in the Buddhist tradition. There is mindfulness simply as “recollection,” “right mindfulness” as it is described by Nagasena, Buddhaghosa, and the Abhidhamma, which is specifically cultivated as part of the path; mindfulness practiced in conjunction with the Four Immeasurables, or Four Brahmaviharas, which conjoins it with these sublime qualities of the heart. And then there is the modern definition of mindfulness as bare attention of whatever arises in the present moment.
So, rather than insisting that attention training without kindness and compassion just isn’t mindfulness, I would encourage you to insist that attention and mindfulness training without kindness and compassion is not complete and balanced; and this is why you are taking the approach that you do, so that you are addressing different aspects of the cultivation of the heart and mind so that the meditations can bring the greatest possible benefit. — B. Alan Wallace
From Susan again: To me the interplay between mindfulness, attention, kindness and compassion is the most important topic to consider when practicing mindfulness with children. I welcome you to join this discussion by leaving a comment here, or on a similar post within the IK Community website, or on the MIEN listserve.
(To join the MIEN listserve send a blank email to — MiEN-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.)
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Comment by Susi on 8 August 2008:
I would say more that mindfulness brings about kindness and compassion rather than it being a requirement. As you eventually see yourself and everyone else as being “of the same stuff” - I just woke up; I could probably think of better words later - you just naturally become more empathetic. (I’ve been teaching mindfulness meditation for about 6 years and that’s not only what students tell me but also what I notice in them. It’s not particularly a goal - it just happens.)
Namaste.
Comment by Susan on 8 August 2008:
I agree with respect to the process of mindfulness and how it unfolds, particularly in adults and older children. As students become more aware that everything is connected it tends to bring out a heightened interest in community, compassion and kindness. And with respect to Buddhist definitions of mindfulness I bow entirely to Alan’s point of view.
My perspective though is one of practice rather than academic (as I see yours is too) and mine specifically about working with kids. When working with kids being concrete with respect to the instruction is key due to developmental differences at various ages, and the time we have to work with them quite limited. Thus the choice to directly teach attention training within a specific overlay of teamwork, friendliness and community. Embodiment is also important, but for InnerKids’ programs we take it one step further and address issues of kindness, compassion, friendliness, team-playing etc directly as part of the program itself. We also directly address issues of wise action and wise relationship - again something that tends to unfold naturally through the practice of mindfulness itself.