Mindfulness and the Physician

Mindfulness in medicine is one of the most exciting areas of contemplative practices.  A tradition that does back more than 2500 years, mindfulness teaches ways of becoming more present, more grounded, more in touch with the present moment.

The depth of intellect and compassion that flow through most physicians are the source of classic stories that inspire as well as a part of most people’s personal experience.  Hippocrates, about 2,400 years ago wrote in his Epidemics: "Declare the past, diagnose the present, foretell the future; practice these acts.”  This is quintessentially a mindfulness lesson.  Its teaching leads to a mind that is grounded in the present, and looks to past and future -- not in reaction out of which flows regret and fear -- but rather out of wisdom, with courage and out of service. 

Hippocrates continues, “As to diseases, make a habit of two things — to help, or at least to do no harm." And this too speaks to one of the great teachings of mindfulness -- to do no harm and to alleviate suffering.

The Mindful Physician is a website for physicians.  The harm and the suffering that we explore are, first and foremost, those experienced by the physician. It is all to common for physicians to experience burnout, to be subject to cardiovascular disease and other diseases associated with lifestyle (a sad irony), to suffer in their personal relationships.  It is easy to find physicians so immersed in their their work, so gratified by the experiences of being a healer, that they forget to take care of themselves.  And, when others intervene, a certain something buried within the healer resists.

Mindfulness offers an insight into this powerful dynamic and relief to physicians who recognize the subtle and sometimes not so subtle expressions of their pain and suffering.  Through both the ancient practices, as well as more modern day approaches such as the heavily researched Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and the Medisight program established by the Institute for Mindfulenss Studies, The Mindful Physician offers information and services to familiarize and enhance physicians understanding, appreciation, and practice of mindfulness.