Mindfulness-based stress reduction and spirituality : Are there spiritual elements in MBSR and does that make it something more than stress reduction?

This is a qualitative literature analysis aimed at investigating elements of spirituality within the mindfulness practice of MBSR. This is done by looking at different definitions of spirituality, religiosity and mindfulness. I also look at the origins of mindfulness in the MBSR program and compare it to its contemporary religious counterpart to look for which similarities do or don’t exist. I consider the historical and current uses of these concepts to create a necessary background and theory. The study shows that mindfulness and related concepts are often not described in a satisfactory way within literature which creates problems in research. The founder of the MBSR method, Jon Kabat-Zinn, wanted to re-conceptualize Buddhist concepts in a secular context. But the actual inclusion of these elements depends largely on which definitions are used, and on the specific practice situation and instructor and partly on the participants’ own sense of spirituality. I discuss the use of mindfulness in secular and New age type businesses and bring up earlier criticism of mindfulness both from scientists and Buddhists. I also discuss spirituality in a secular context and how the MBSR program can be used by New age spiritual seekers and to fill people’s need for meaning and sense of coherence (SOC) in an individualistic society which is increasingly abandoning traditional religions