Mindfulness and Yoga – Frank Jude Boccio

Which ideas keep traditions alive in the 21st century? Modern mindfulness removes Buddhist framing, but says much of its wisdom is part of the practice. Yoga is usually taught similarly. Are there benefits to reinventing teachings? What are the pitfalls?

Frank Jude Boccio and his book, Mindfulness Yoga

I recently discussed this with Frank Jude Boccio, who has been a dharma practitioner for almost 50 years. He was a long-time student of Thich Nhat Hanh, and ordained to teach Zen by the Korean master Samu Sunim. Frank Jude is the author of Mindfulness Yoga, which integrates the practice of āsana with insight meditation.

Among other topics, our conversation covered:

• What mindfulness means (not “be here now”)

• How to think for oneself while removing illusions

• Which traditional concepts might not seem relevant

• Whether seeking liberation is a helpful objective

• Why Frank Jude left Thich Nhat Hanh’s order