Spirituality vs. Religion - Where does Mindfulness fit in?

For thousands of years, people have prayed. The masses have settled into various forms of prayer, each praying to their own GOD, their ultimate being as presented in their own reality. Religions have caused wars and division, each claiming theirs is the 'ultimate truth', the 'ultimate way'. The presence of God as a supra-national entity, defies perceptual understanding and goes beyond the seen, into the realm of the unseen. Interestingly enough the basic tenets of many religions, still to this day, remain very similar in terms of their ethical foundations and premises (good over evil).

For some educated 'western' millennials, religion has become a bit of a subject to be avoided. The idea that it could breed so much hate, war and division is perturbing to this and younger generations who scorn at it being the cause of so much conflict. When belief systems overlap, the potential for conflict always remains a viable possibility. Religious practices based on traditional belief systems, rarely seem to be understood by the 'younger generation' who have become much more accustomed to use their intellect to question and discern religious messaging.

In some instances, peoples faith in humanity and the world has been tested. Acts of violence, school shootings, bigotry, inhumane practices, corruption, terrorism, political upheaval etc have questioned our faith in the world and in each other. Global reaction to these 'evil' acts has been impressive, garnering massive presence on social media indicating messages of love, hope and resilience. Though some of these acts, as heinous crimes cause much pain, they also serve to unite humankind in a sort of 'kumbaya-like' spiritual unity.

Many have chosen to avoid pain, by living moment to moment, in present awareness as described by Jon Kabat-Zinn as mindfulness. Some, like Daniel Goldman and Richard Davidson, have coupled mindfulness with meditation (one being almost synonymous with the other). In their book, Altered Traits, they indicate that the reason we should all meditate is to reach the "deep path" whereby we "cultivate enduring qualities like selflessness, equanimity, a loving presence, and impartial compassion" (Goldman & Davidson, 2017, p. 7).

Meditative religious practices have existed in most major religions for quite some time, and are not limited to Buddhist roots. According to the Chopra Centre, the practice of meditation originated in 1500 BCE based on the teachings of the Vedas in India. A meditative component is found in (but not limited to) Buddhism, Taoism, Zen Christianity, Jewish Kabbalah, Yoga Hinduism, Sufism and Islamic esoteric practices, to name a few. Indigenous meditation and mindfulness practices arise from the natural setting, from dance and from traditional forms of music and drumming.

As the internet makes this world a smaller and smaller place, adopting a pluralistic viewpoint of religion becomes a moral imperative. Never have we been so much in each other's faces, thanks to social media. Never has there been a more pressing time to get to know ourselves and others better. Understanding the other, helps us to understand ourselves. And mindfulness, meditation and spirituality can show us the way. It's the middle path, bringing together a common thread of many religious-based practices or none at all.

"Both spirituality and religion emphasize values and moral actions, and both can provide meaning, purpose, and hope to life" (Linehan, 2015, p. 156).