Jon is one of the founders of the modern Mindfulness Movement in the West. We’re proud to feature his story & his insights in our film which is available here worldwide with subtitles in many languages (plus 4 free resource videos).
He first had his idea of bringing secular mindfulness into the mainstream in the late 1970s when he decided to strip away the spiritual traditions associated with the practice & try to help chronic pain patients at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center where he was working as a researcher. He was savvy enough to know that he needed to change the way he referred to the practice, which is why he called his first organization the Stress Reduction Clinic.
As he says in the film, when he helped people bring present moment awareness into their lives they experienced remarkable improvements in their physical & mental health. One of his key insights is, “mindfulness is not about exchanging this moment for some better moment.” For example, the chronic pain patients couldn’t make their pain disappear, but with Jon’s help they were able to change their relationship to the pain & reduce their suffering by developing more awareness of their present moment experiences & their reactions to those experiences.
Another important aspect of mindfulness that Jon stresses is that it has to be, at its core, an ethical practice. As the Movement grows & is practiced by more people & incorporated into a wider variety of businesses & institutions, Jon feels it’s essential to make sure it’s being used for the right purposes, especially to relieve suffering. As he says, “How would you even know if you’re doing harm, unless you’re aware, unless you’re awake, unless you’re mindful of your impulses to control. You’re engaging in the meditation practice for the sake of, as they say, ‘all beings.'”
Jon’s shares many other insights in the film but we’ll leave you with one more for now: “There is no moment that’s not a wonderful moment for mindfulness.” So simple. So true.
For more information, inspiring stories of personal transformation & examples of mindfulness helping people throughout society, check out our movie at TheMindfulnessMovement.com. It’s already been seen in 90+ countries.
Read more here about what mindfulness is & how it’s different than meditation.
Books by Jon Kabat-Zinn & other experts in the film — U.S. orders
International orders: Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat-Zinn
International orders: Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
International orders: Falling Awake: How to Practice Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Please note: the producers of The Mindfulness Movement may receive an affiliate commission from books purchased through the links above.