ABSTRACT
In the West, mindfulness is understood as an individual’s ability to be aware of what is happening at the present moment, while in the Eastern tradition of Buddhism, mindfulness (sati) is not just awareness, it must be right (samma). Right mindfulness (samma sati) is practiced through two types of meditation: concentration (samatha) and insight (vipassana). It is founded on Buddhist ethics and is one of the elements of the mental discipline (samadhi) of the Noble Eightfold Path. It also enables an individual to become the master of their mind, prior to entering the field of wisdom (panna). In Buddhism, insight is an individual’s ability to see things as they are in their true nature (i.e., suffering, impermanence, and non-self) by maintaining awareness, wisdom, and equanimity. Prior research on ethical decision-making (EDM) in the West has found that while mindfulness does not have an impact on individuals who choose to cheat, negative emotions such as anger, fear, and sadness have an adverse effect on their EDM. As such, in this chapter we argue how and why the concept of insight goes beyond the boundaries of mindfulness and how and why it could be used to extend our understanding of EDM and happiness in organizations.
