In Buddhist teachings, mindfulness is utilized to develop self-knowledge and wisdom that gradually lead to what is described as enlightenment or the complete freedom from suffering.
Mindfulness practice is being employed to reduce depression symptoms, to reduce stress, anxiety, and in the treatment of drug addiction.
The practice of mindfulness also appears to provide numerous therapeutic benefits to people with psychosis, and may also be a preventive strategy to halt the development of mental health problems.
Right mindfulness is the seventh element of the noble eightfold path.
- Right View: death is not the end, and our actions and beliefs have also consequences after death
- Right Resolve: peaceful renunciation, to non-sensuality, to loving kindness, away from cruelty to compassion
- Right Speech: no lying, no rude speech, no telling one person what another says about him
- Right Conduct: no killing or injuring, no taking what is not given, no sexual acts
- Right Livelihood: beg to feed, only possessing what is essential to sustain life
- Right Effort: guard against sensual thoughts
- Right Mindfulness: never be absent minded, being conscious of what one is doing;
- Right Samadhi: practicing four stages of meditation culminating into unification of the mind.