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MULTIPLE IDENTITIES VIA SPIRITUALITY, HISTORIES AND CULTURAL RE-PRESENTATIONS 1494. Mindfulness is not just a matter of “technique”,as often investigated by the scientific andmedical community. It is a way of life. It has acognitive framework and an ethical framework,as earlier discussed. We should always allowsuch cognitive-ethical frameworks to bereexamined whenever necessary, in continuingdialog with modern science, as well as withother religious, philosophical traditions orevolving worldviews.5. Mindfulness is meant to assess a situation of“suffering”, using “suffering” as an opportunityfor growth: Quoting the 13th century Sufi poetand mindfulness teacher Jelaluddin Rumi: “Donot turn your head. Keep looking at the bandagedplace. That’s where the light enters you”.NOTES78The Eight Limbs of Yoga: The Yamas explicitly setrequirements for the ancient yogi to follow a code of moralconduct – non-harming (ahimsa), truthfulness or non-lying(satya), non-stealing (asteya), sexual continence or celibacy(bramacharya), and non-possessiveness. These weredefinitely guidelines for shramana or ascetic monk training.The eight limbs of yoga prepare the postulant for acontemplative lifestyle, dedicated towards achieving anenlightened consciousness through meditation. To be able todo this, one has to be socially engaged in a positive way,observe personal hygiene and purification steps (niyamas),then dedicate oneself to the individual practice of meditationwhich starts from a correct sitting posture (asana). Breathawareness and breath control exercises (pranayama) help toprepare the body for different levels of contemplation(dharana and jhana), until one reaches the promisedenlightened state of mind (samadhi).Dr. Herbert Benson was a Physiology professor at HarvardUniversity in the 1970s, and authored the book TheRelaxation Response based on his meditation research studies.See: Profile of Dr. Herbert Benson: http://www.mbmi.org/benson/default.asp1 My API Fellowship Activity Report can be accessed online at:https://sites.google.com/site/mykyotodiaryofmind/home234Hindu and Buddhist traditions incorporate the concept ofkleshas in reference to defilements which obstruct theattainment of full human potential. See http://www.palikanon.com/english/wtb/g_m/kilesa.htm as well ashttp://www.nathorder.org/wiki/Five_KleshasThe term “Axial age” was first coined by the Germanphilosopher Karl Jaspers (1883 – 1969). Jaspers pointed tothe period between 800 to 200 BCE in which greatrevolutionary thinking arose in China, India and the West,during which the common goal of sages was the search for themeaning of human existence. The “axial age” concept wasfurther explored by Karl Armstrong (2006).Archaeological excavations have revealed a number ofsymbols important to the people of the Indus Valleycivilization which include the pipal tree (bodhi tree), animalssuch as the elephant and the deer, and the image of a humanfigure seated in a cross-legged meditation posture. These areimportant images in Buddhism.9 Other papers did show that mantra recitations, whether ofthe Christian or Hindu type, could affect autonomicresponses. See: Bernardi L, Sleight P, Bandinelli G, CencettiS, Fattorini L, Wdowczyc-Szulc J, Lagi A. Effect of rosaryprayer and yoga mantras on autonomic cardiovascularrhythms: a comparative study. British Medical Journal.2001;323:1446-910 For descriptions of the mindfulness-based stress reductionprogram started by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, see: http://www.umassmed.edu/Content.aspx?id=4242611 The titles of some representative science papers on the effectsof yoga and mindfulness on emotional health can be accessedat my website: https://sites.google.com/site/mykyotodiaryofmind/home/vii-appendix-preliminaryreview-papers/api_endnote-4612 The titles of some representative meta-analytical reviews ofyoga and mindfulness studies appearing in medical journalpublications can be accessed at my website: https://sites.google.com/site/mykyotodiaryofmind/home/viiappendix-preliminary-review-papers/api_endnote-4756Some online sources of translations and commentaries onPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras include: http://www.abardoncompanion.com/Alex/Patanjali.pdf ; http://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras.htmFor free online access to the Pali Canon, see: http://www.palicanon.org/. The Buddha’s discourses were dividedinto three parts: (1) Vinaya Pitaka contains all the ruleswhich the Buddha laid down for monks and nuns; (2) thesecond part is called the Suttanta Pitaka which contains theDiscourses; (3) the third part is known as the AbhidhammaPitaka which comprises the psycho-ethical teachings of theBuddha.13 See: Grossman P, Niemann L, Schmidt S, Walach H.Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health benefits. Ameta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 2004Jul;57(1):35-43.14 See: Toneatto T, Nguyen L. Does mindfulness meditationimprove anxiety and mood symptoms? A review of thecontrolled research. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 2007Apr;52(4):260-6. Review.15 See: Ledesma D, Kumano H. Mindfulness-based stressreduction and cancer: a meta-analysis. Psychooncology. 2009Jun;18(6):571-9.The Work of the 2010/2011 API Fellows