Mindfulness , correctly called anapanasati, which means in, out breathing in Pali as taught by the Buddha. Mindfulness is an excellent method to calm the mind and build mental strength. Mindfulness currently as it is taught also includes modern hypnotherapy techniques and other therapy skills.
A bit of a background first. Mindfulness as a new therapy tool started in Scotland , possibly around 1994/95 , in Samye Ling Buddhist temple, i was there by the way at that time. It was the Lama there who founded and helped create the movement.
To reach a higher state of awareness, mindfulness would require retreats from normal life to increase focus. Originally mindfulness was taught to the Buddhist Monks and not the lay people as it is part of the dhyana yoga school where the obstacles are removed. Mindfulness focuses on the air element (breath) to enter a chain of concentration, fixing and holding the mind, note — while living in the West you will need pranayama plus a mantra to enter this fixed concentration. Also required is the correct place of the face to focus one’s attention which leads meditative absorption. This is never revealed in current Mindfulness courses. As it stands mindfulness or simple mind calming is of great use to people to slow down fast minds and help people to stay focused in their everyday life. However, as a spiritual practice is of little serious value unless under the supervision of trained monastics and even then you will need to go back to the humdrum life. Rather than practicing a yogic technique to realize the universal consciousness, why not realize it now and relax into it?
Contrary to popular belief the Buddha could not reach enlightenment through breath awareness, or mindfulness but only through awareness of consciousness itself, which is easier than you realize.
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