The editor of this new Routledge collection describes mindfulness as ‘the process of bringing attention to the present moment and observing what one is experiencing in an open and non-judgemental fashion’. Although a simple concept in principle, mindfulness is a process that does not come naturally to human beings, and often requires much practice and instruction to master. And while scientific research has now clearly documented the broad benefits of mindfulness, not least in relation to our physical health and psychological well-being, many complex questions are still being addressed. For instance:

• How does our modern, scientific understanding of mindfulness relate to its various religious and cultural traditions?

• What is the most accurate way operationally to define mindfulness as a psychological construct, and what assessment methods are best suited for studying this process inside and outside of the laboratory?

• What are the true benefits of mindfulness-based interventions, and how do they achieve their positive effects on health?

• Are there certain situations in which intensive meditation practices are contraindicated and even harmful?

As mindfulness research and practice briskly accelerates, this four-volume collection provides an authoritative reference work that makes sense of a vast—and growing—literature. Volume I is organized around foundational themes and explores philosophical and historical sources, while the second volume delves into the many thorny definitional and multi-modal assessment issues related to mindfulness. Volume III assembles major works on various applications of mindfulness practice and related interventions in terms of their potential benefits to people and groups. The collection’s final volume further explores current controversies, emerging themes, and future directions.

With a comprehensive introduction, newly written by the editor, Mindfulness is an essential one-stop resource for advanced students, scholars, researchers, and clinicians interested in gaining a thorough understanding of this increasingly popular topic.