INTRODUCTION

Mindfulness (Pali sati, Skt smUti) plays an important role in Buddhist practice and philosophy. Many contemporary Buddhist teachers, especially those following the Theravada tradition, are advocates of mindfulness.1 Mindfulness is a function or quality of mind, but it is often described as something to be practiced or cultivated. Right mindfulness is one component of the Noble Eightfold Path that leads to the final religious goal. One text even states that those who have undertaken the four establishments of mindfulness have undertaken the noble path.2 Therefore mindfulness (sati) can be considered to be a practice.