**1. Introduction**

In order to understand the link between meditative practice and the perception of beauty, one must explore the worldview that can be achieved through mindfulness. Meditation is a first-person method for contemplating ourselves and the world, with more than 2500 years of history, rooted in the philosophical and contemplative traditions of the east. The present chapter aims to explore this worldview in order to demonstrate its relevance to our capacity for the appreciation of beauty.

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2017 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The concept of mindfulness has become the focus of increasing scientific and clinical attention over the last few decades. This appears to stem from the fact that until now, 'psychological science has conventionally focused in one way or another on the contents of consciousness (cognitions, emotions, and their somatic and behavioural consequences), mindfulness fundamentally concerns consciousness itself' [1]. The central theme, as per Kabat-Zinn´s definition [2], is 'paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally'. The capacity to sustain awareness of the observed process in the present moment is central to the psychological state associated with mindfulness. In other words, mindfulness is the active component of the mind within a meditative state [3]. It is common within meditative practice to focus on breathing as the principle medium and point of entry to the psychological state associated with mindfulness.

Mindfulness is rooted within oriental contemplative traditions, especially Buddhism. According to Davis [4], 'Buddhist meditation practices encourage concentration, clarity, and the cultivation of calm and positive ways of being as a way of life'. The long contemplative tradition that began with Siddhartha Gautama, who would eventually be known as the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, facilitates a profound and sophisticated understanding of the mind and of human existence. Upon reaching enlightenment, the Buddha spoke of Four Noble Truths: the first is that life is suffering (dukkha), the second Noble Truth is that the origin and cause of this suffering is desire or yearning (taṇhā), the third Truth claims that this suffering may end and the fourth Noble Truth claims that a path exists to achieve the end of suffering. That path, known in the Buddhist tradition as the Noble Eightfold Path, involves eight attitudinal and behavioural practices, which, if followed, lead to freedom from human suffering. One of them, known as *sāmmā sati* in Pali (the language spoken by the Buddha), and which is usually translated as *right mindfulness*, is the practice of mindfulness meditation.

The earliest scriptures on Buddhism, specifically the Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta, describe the concept, its characteristics and practice in detail [5]. Davis [4] points out that 'in accordance with the Buddhist philosophy, taking responsibility of our state of mind is the most important thing we can do to free ourselves of human suffering'. The great achievement of the Buddha lies in the fact that he identified the central cause of human suffering, which is the fact that we are permanently yearning to achieve a different state to the one that we are currently in or, on the other hand, that we reject the states of discomfort in which we may find ourselves.

Research has shown how this inherent state of human nature is at the root of many psychopathological conditions, especially depression [6]. The aim of mindfulness meditation is for us to develop the capacity to use our senses to pay attention non-judgementally, both directly and immediately, to what is happening in our body, mind and surroundings, in the present moment. This serves to counteract the ruminative and phobic attitudes that underlie many mental health conditions. Despite being rooted in Buddhist practices, mindfulness may be practised by anyone, regardless of their religious or spiritual background. It is possible to go so far as to claim that mindfulness develops the capacity to leave states of automatic mental functioning, in order to examine systematically the way in which we are and the way we live, as well as reviewing our place within the world [2].
