What is the difference between mindfulness and meditation

Meditation is a general term for all practices that actively adjust attention and enhance inner awareness. It is a broad category that covers a wide range of practices. Mindfulness is the most popular and secular branch of meditation under this category. What we often call "mindfulness meditation" specifically refers to this type of practice.

Looking at the actual practice scene, the difference is more intuitive. If you have searched for meditation-related content, you must have seen various schools: some require you to form specific mudras and recite corresponding mantras, some require you to close your eyes and visualize a specific image, and there are even dynamic meditations that allow you to adjust your breathing while walking slowly. These all belong to the category of meditation, but only practices whose core requirement is "awareness of the present moment without judgment" can be considered mindfulness. I used to have a friend who worked in Internet operations. He was so anxious about meeting KPIs every day that he lost his hair. He didn't take classes seriously. Every time he changed the plan to the point of explosion, he would put his phone on the table and sit with his eyes closed for 30 seconds, feeling the touch of his feet on the floor. When the thought "Party A will definitely come back with this plan" comes up, let it go without thinking about it. This short 30 seconds is a very standard mindfulness practice - no need to meditate, no need to burn incense, no threshold, and can be done at any time.

Of course, regarding the boundary between the two, there are actually quite a lot of differences among practitioners with different backgrounds. Many people with a background in traditional religious practice feel that the popular mindfulness on the market has stripped away the core of traditional meditation, stripping away the original goals of mind cultivation and spiritual improvement, leaving only an empty shell for relieving anxiety. It is a bit reluctant to call it meditation, just like letting out all the bubbles in a soda. It is still sweet, but not sweet. It's refreshing; but researchers in clinical psychology agree with this secular transformation. Originally, ordinary people came to meditation not for any spiritual practice, but because they wanted to have a good night's sleep and reduce emotional internal consumption. Mindfulness removes those religious-related rituals and thresholds, allowing more people to enjoy the benefits of meditation, which is not a bad thing.

I have been practicing meditation for almost four years, and I have tried different schools of meditation. Instead, I feel that there is no need to worry about whether the name is right or authentic. If you want to solve specific emotional problems, just find a reliable mindfulness guide and practice with it. If you are interested in deeper practice, it is perfectly fine to explore other types of meditation. Anyway, for ordinary people, if it can help you practice, it is good practice.