Buddhism for a modern world

Writer Ed Halliwell authored an interesting little piece on Buddhism and mindfulness in the weekend's Guardian.

Halliwell's forthcoming book, The Mindful Manifesto: How Doing Less and Noticing More can Help Us Thrive in a Stressed-Out World, is published this September by Hay House.

Halliwell's is the lastest book from a growing - though still small - pool that aims to integrate scientific and medical research on mindfulness, presenting it within a historical context.

In his piece on Saturday, Halliwell made the valid point that, to many, the real relevance of Buddhism is as a philosophy and lifestyle, not as a religion.

He writes, 'from universities to boardrooms, mindfulness is being taught without reference to its religious heritage'.

And while this may rankle traditionalists, surely presenting the powerful simplicity and truth of Buddhist teachings in an accessible way is essential to - as Halliwell puts it - 'connect with a wider audience.'

It is not unlike the challenge that the wider yoga industry faces: how to maintain the integrity of ancient teachings, re-packaged for a universal, contemporary audience?

We very much look forward to reviewing The Mindful Manifesto later this year. Meanwhile, for more on mindfulness, click here).

Lucia Cockcroft, editor