Do mindfulness and mindfulness research fit together? A critical reflection

Summary of a forum contribution at the symposium "Applied Consciousness Science - Science in the Service of Living" on 12 October 2012 in Bad Abbach

  • Stefan Schmidt
Keywords: mindfulness, experience, 1st person perspective, critique

Abstract

This contribution addresses the relationship between practicing mindfulness and doing research on mindfulness. This is not an easy relationship which is demonstrated by three illustrative examples. The basic problem is that science relies on abstract and fixed concepts while mindfulness is rooted in the always changing realm of individual experience. Thus, we have to take a critical position towards the scientific practice of defining constructs and deriving measurement tools from these definitions.

Author Biography

Stefan Schmidt

Prof. Dr. Dipl. Psych., studied psychology and received his doctorate from the University of Freiburg in 2002. He is an assistant professor at the Institute for Transcultural Health Sciences at the European University Viadrina. There he teaches in the postgraduate master's course 'Cultural Studies - Complementary Medicine'. He is also head of the section of Complementary Medicine Evaluation Research at the University Hospital Freiburg, where he heads the research group for meditation, mindfulness and neurophysiology. Schmidt conducts his research at the interface of health, spirituality and consciousness using a wide variety of methods. His research focuses on mindfulness and health, meditation research, complementary medicine and research methodology. e-mail: stefan.schmidt@uniklinik-freiburg.de

Published
2013-07-18
Issue
Vol. 19 No. 1 (2013): Issue 1/2013 The spectrum of consciousness sciences
Section
Artikel