The Schizophrenic Mirror of Western Mindfulness
The era of ‘digital enlightenment’ has brought an increased pursuit of what has come to be known as mindfulness, carrying with it an inherent schizophrenic element that demands our attention. In a contemporary culture, where persons grappling with identity crises seek to comprehend their surroundings and cope with the confusions spawned by the instant gratification gluttony ingrained in the information age, the online journey of hopeful discovery becomes further complicated by a dichotomy of ancient wisdom and modern individualism.
The advent and subsequent flooding of online information has undoubtedly opened a Pandora’s box, in this instance, placing seekers of so-called mindfulness in a double bind scenario as they strive to integrate the profound roots of ‘sati’ and the alluring rhetoric encapsulated in the nominalistic Western concept of ‘self-awareness.’
In the course of their online travels, seekers may encounter articles and tutorials providing perspectives on the ancient elements of ‘sati.’ These attempts aim to paint a vivid picture of awareness deeply embedded in and emerging from the reality of whole existence.
Simultaneously, they are likely to stumble upon self-help guides promoting the Westernized version of mindfulness — one that places individuals at the epicenter of their consciousness…
