Nowadays the concept of mindfulness has got many inspiring and stimulating 'promotors' who give teachings and write books about the origins, the essence, the process and the effects of it.

Although some of them concentrate on the last two elements, the concept itself stems from the contemplative meditation practice of Buddhism. Especially the work of the Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh has a profound influence on the broad acceptance of effectiveness of this very useful and valuable concept.

Is mindfulness because of this only a Buddhist practice? Maybe the best comment on this fundamental question comes from the American emiritus Professor of Medicine John Kabat-Zinn, when he stated: “Gravity was discovered by the Italian physicist, mathematician and astronomer Galileo Galilei. But this does not mean therefore gravity only works for Italians.“