What Do "Meditation" and "Mindfulness" Really Mean?

Meditation

The word meditation comes from the Latin meditatum, meaning "to ponder" or "to contemplate." Over centuries, this simple word has taken on many meanings across cultures, from focused prayer in Christian monastic traditions, to deep mental concentration in yogic and Buddhist practices, to today's evidence-based methods for calming the nervous system.

That's why definitions vary; some people think of it as sitting cross-legged in silence, others think of breathing slowly, chanting, or simply being present. In this course, we keep it simple and practical:

Meditation is the practice of shifting from thinking to sensing

It's like going to the gym for your brain; repetition builds strength. And like any skill, it gets easier with time.

Mindfulness

The word mindfulness comes from the Pali word sati, which means "to remember" or "awareness." It was popularised in the West by Jon Kabat-Zinn, who defined it as:

"Paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally."

Put simply:

Mindfulness is being awake to your experience as it's happening.

You're not lost in thought, not swept away by emotion, you're grounded in what's happening right now. That could be your breath, your body, your surroundings, or a single task.

Mindfulness is a quality you build through the practice of meditation. You don't need to stop your thoughts; you just need to create a relationship with them.