Mindfulness in Western Contexts: Development, Mechanisms, and a Comparative Analysis with Buddhist Sati

Abstract

This objectives of this article were to 1) explain the development of mindfulness practice in Western contexts, from its origins in behavioral medicine to its application in psychotherapy and the promotion of psychological well-being 2) synthesize the mechanistic frameworks used to explain the therapeutic effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) 3) compare Western mindfulness with Buddhist  Sati in terms of their goals, mechanisms, and ethical foundations; and 4) propose practical implications for applying mindfulness as a preventive tool to promote well-being within medical, educational setting, while integrating a profound Buddhist-informed understanding. This article employs a narrative synthetic review of academic literature, including classical studies on MBSR and MBCT, contemporary research, and relevant Buddhist texts. The synthesis reveals that mindfulness practice in Western contexts initially emerged in behavioral medicine to help patients with chronic conditions manage pain, stress, and responses to unpleasant experiences. It later expanded into psychotherapeutic, especially MBCT, which aims to prevent depression relapse through mechanisms such as attentional regulation, decentering from automatic thoughts, acceptance of internal experiences, and reduction of rumination. When compared with Buddhist Sati, the finding indicate that Sati is not merely a technique for regulations or symptom reduction,. Rather, it is a mental factor inextricably linked to morality, concentration, and wisdom. Grounded in a solid ethical foundation, its ultimate goal is to perceive reality according to causal conditions, thereby leading to fading away of attachment and the cessation of suffering. The article suggested that the application of mindfulness within the Thai context should integrate the strengths of Western mindfulness-based programs-particularly their structured designs and empirical evidence- with the depth of Buddhist frameworks concerning ethics and wisdom. Such integration may enable mindfulness to function as a preventive well-being tool suitable for medical, educational, and holistic life-development contexts.