MAINSTREAM MINDFULNESS practice typically focuses on techniques to calm, relax, and focus the mind. This can be done by anchoring the attention on the breath or another focal point and letting go of everything else. These practices demonstrably improve well-being and reduce stress.
A good mindfulness teacher will also encourage meditators to use their practice to cultivate positive qualities such as confidence, patience, determination, and kindness. We can refer to the development of relaxation, calmness, and positive qualities as “cultivation practice.”
There is another important side of meditative practice that is underemphasized in mainstream mindfulness. This is the development of insight
