How does mindfulness meditation enhance mediation?
Meditation and mediation are both instruments of peacemaking. The former deals with internal conflict, and the latter with interpersonal conflict. Many skills required for success in meditation are the same as those required for success in mediation. Take “presence of mind” for example. Zen practitioners call it “mindfulness.” Mediators refer to it as “micro-focus” or “attention to details.” While “attention” may be a hallmark of mediation (Lang and Taylor, 2000), it is the bedrock of mindfulness meditation. There is a story about a teacher who was asked about the highest teaching of Zen. He wrote the word “Attention” on the board. “But, isn’t there anything more profound?” he was asked. “Yes, there is,” he said and wrote the word “Attention” again. “But, there must be something more,” insisted the student. “Yes, there is,” the teacher said. And he turned to the board and once more wrote “Attention.” Now the board said, “Attention, Attention, Attention.” Therefore, “attention” is the b
