Q&A: Mindfulness
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Mindfulness
Question
Hello, honorable Rabbi. Lately I’ve been doing an activity called mindfulness, which is a method that originated with the Buddha and whose purpose is to calm anxiety, stress, etc. But in the activity itself there is no connection to idol worship; it’s just various meditation exercises. Is that a problem from a halakhic perspective?
Answer
In my opinion, no.
There is no halakhic problem. http://jewishv.org/approval-of-rabbi-aviner/
On this site you’ll get all the recommendations and support for mindfulness according to Judaism. Everything is from David Weiss, who practices it and personally leads groups for Torah- and commandment-observant people, and his life story itself is entirely a song of praise for this comprehensive method.