Buddhist mindfulness meditation is catching on in a big way amongst the young, hooked on technology, and the old in their sunset years. Popularized in the West by the late Vietnamese Zen master, Thich Nhat Hanh, mindfulness meditation hinges on focused awareness of the present moment. There is no past or future, just here and now — mindfulness in breathing, walking, eating, driving and even mundane daily activities like cooking or washing up.
The elusive search for peace of mind draws the young to meditation. More than ever anxiety, depression, alienation, loneliness, family problems and medical conditions are preying on minds, affecting emotional and physical well-being. Driven to desperation, many turn to mind-body medicine. Meditation, scientifically validated, offers hope.