Differences Between Mindfulness and Meditation
| Mindfulness | Meditation | |
|---|---|---|
| Clear definition | Yes | Has a definition but not clearly bounded |
| Mystical tone | None | Often carries a mystical tone |
| Founder | Gautama Siddhartha (5th century BCE) | Unspecified |
| Practice methods | Begin with awareness of bodily sensations, then include thoughts and emotions, and further expand to awareness of the surrounding environment | Very broad range of methods that vary by teacher or tradition |
| Use of imagination in practice | Rarely, almost never. Emphasizes clearly perceivable present-moment states and trains the mind to genuinely connect with the here and now. | Often uses visualization to evoke a state, such as imagining light or colors, progressive muscle relaxation cues, or visualizing being in a forest or by the sea. |
| Emphasis on emptying the mind | No. Focuses on present-moment awareness, which reduces mental wandering and the habit of crafting inner narratives. | A common approach |
| How relaxation is achieved | Not pursued as a goal, though awareness is often accompanied by relaxation. | Often advocates “emptying the mind” to achieve relaxation. |
| Body state | Includes both dynamic and static practices, with equal emphasis. | Tends toward static practice; a typical posture is seated meditation. |
| Mind–body–spirit | Falls under mind–body medicine. Spiritual topics are rarely discussed in class, as contemporary mindfulness is de-religionized. Enhancing body and mind often coincides with spiritual well-being. | Places relatively more emphasis on mind and spirit than on the body. Perspectives and depth regarding “spirit” vary by teacher or lineage. |
| Style of audio guidance and scripts | Natural, everyday speaking tone, usually without background music. Emphasizes the here and now rather than creating a specific atmosphere. | Tone is often deliberately elegant, gentle, and steady, frequently with ethereal or nature background music to evoke calm and serenity. |
Both mindfulness and meditation are time‑honored practices. However, “meditation” is a broad umbrella, and different traditions may have entirely different procedures and meanings. Compared with meditation, mindfulness has a more precise definition and a clearer learning pathway. With personal growth trending and many approaches available, we encourage you to explore what fits you best—multi‑tradition meditation, or mindfulness training with a structured learning curve.
We are the Chinese Mindfulness‑Based Stress Reduction Center and offer a range of mindfulness courses. Feel free to browse our course descriptions, and if you’re interested, join us to learn Mindfulness‑Based Stress Reduction!