Historical influences

The table below lists a range of historical influences on Basic Mindfulness, the meditation system which evolved into Unified Mindfulness.

Basic Mindfulness	Historical Influences
Noting (as a general technique)	Mahasi Sayadaw tradition (Burmese)
Focus In	The Buddha's unique "divide and conquer" discovery Five aggregates Four foundations Four elements, etc.
Focus Out	Merging aspects of Zen practice. Good for practice while performing tasks (Confucian work ethic) and for experiencing oneness with the outside world (Taoist monistic philosophy).
Focus On Rest	Samatha / Jhāna practices of early Buddhism Hesychasm and Prayer of Quiet in Christianity Jewish Shabbat Islamic Zikr
Focus On Flow (Sensory Flow Version)	Anicca (impermanence) of early Buddhism Qi (Chi, Ki) in East Asian medicine and martial arts Kundalini in Yogic tradition.
Focus On Flow (Expansion Contraction Version)	Jōshū Sasaki’s view of Zen Daoism (Yin-Yang) Tàijíquán: “Filling and Emptying” Jewish Kabbalah: Hesed & Gevurah Innumerable “Syzygy” formulations found throughout history and across cultures.
Focus On See	Formless Absorptions (arūpa jhāna) in early Buddhism.
Focus On Hear	Shūraṅgama Samādhi Sūtra.
Focus On Feel	U Ba Khin (Burmese)
Focus On Everything	Some definitions of Choiceless Awareness Some definitions of Just Sitting (shikantaza).
Just Note Gone	Buddhaghosa’s Path of Purification implies that this perception comes right before initial enlightenment Raja Yoga: Nirodha Jewish Kabbalah: Bittul Ha-yesh Islamic Sufism: Fana’
Do Nothing	Tibetan Dzogchen Some definitions of Just Sitting (shikantaza) Some definitions of Non-dual Awareness (Advaita).
Nurture Positive Affect	Lovingkindness related practices Smile/Laughter Meditation (Thich Nhat Hanh, Norman Cousins) Devotional paths based on Love.
Nurture Positive Behaviour	Behavioral Therapies Sila practice of early Buddhism Religions that emphasize moral codes.
Nurture Positive Cognition	Cognitive Therapies Modern Cognitive “antidote” practices Early Buddhist “antidote” practices (Tadaṅga Pahāna).
Nurture Positive Cognition	Deity Yoga in Tibetan Vajrayāna Three Mystery practice in Japanese Shingon Some forms of Pūja practice in Hinduism Traditional Rosary practice in Catholicism.
Nurture Positive Situation	The power of positive thinking “Visualization” The laws of manifestation and attraction Affirmations The Secret.