---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Simply put, mindfulness is…"
description: "\"Simply put, mindfulness is moment-to-moment non-judgmental awareness.\" — Jon Kabat-Zinn"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awareness_simply-put-mindfulness-is-moment-to-mome_3094826.png"
---

#  Simply put, mindfulness is moment-to-moment non-judgmental…

![“Simply put, mindfulness is moment-to-moment non-judgmental awareness.” quote by Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awareness_simply-put-mindfulness-is-moment-to-mome_3094826.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awareness_simply-put-mindfulness-is-moment-to-mome_3094826.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awareness_simply-put-mindfulness-is-moment-to-mome_3094826.png)

> “Simply put, mindfulness is moment-to-moment non-judgmental awareness.”

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Mindfulness is the practice of observing each present moment without judgment, allowing thoughts and feelings to pass naturally.

**In simple terms:** Observe present without judging.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate non‑judgmental awareness.

Themes

mindfulness awareness presence

Mood

calm focused

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- stress reduction
- daily meditation
- therapy sessions
- workplace focus

Key Concepts

Buddhist practice psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How does judgment affect your experience?
- What habits help you stay present?

A Different Perspective

May be difficult when emotions are intense.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Mindfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindfulness/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Non judgmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-judgmental/)

## Related quotes

> [Mindfulness means moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness. It is cultivated by refining our capacity to pay attention, intentionally, in the present moment, and then sustaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/mindfulness-means-moment-to-moment-non-judgmental-awareness-it-is/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [The seed of your next artwork lies embedded in the imperfections of your current piece. Such imperfections are your guides - valuable, objective, non-judgmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/the-seed-of-your-next-artwork-lies-embedded-in-the-imperfections-of-2/)

[David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/)

> [American author Mark Twain, while viewed as liberal and non-judgmental, did at times demonstrate both these characteristics. While his reasons for detesting the Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/american-author-mark-twain-while-viewed-as-liberal-and-non-judgmental/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [The cool thing is that jazz is really a wonderful example of the great characteristics of Buddhism and great characteristics of the human spirit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/the-cool-thing-is-that-jazz-is-really-a-wonderful-example-of-the/)

[Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/)

> [Yes, I have my standpoint, but I try to follow the life of Christ and he was very non-judgmental. It's not my position to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donny-osmond/yes-i-have-my-standpoint-but-i-try-to-follow-the-life-of-christ-and/)

[Donny Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donny-osmond/)

> [In place of the old beliefs of a civilization based on godliness, judgment and historical loyalty, young people are given the new beliefs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/in-place-of-the-old-beliefs-of-a-civilization-based-on-godliness/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [I am humanly unable to correct my negative self-image until I encounter a life-changing experience with non-judgmental love bestowed upon me by a Person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/i-am-humanly-unable-to-correct-my-negative-self-image-until-i/)

[Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/)

> [“The highest freedom of mind comes from becoming non-judgmental.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/the-highest-freedom-of-mind-comes-from-becoming-non-judgmental/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [Any judgment is past oriented, and existence is always herenow, life is always herenow. All judgments are coming from your past experiences, your education,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/any-judgment-is-past-oriented-and-existence-is-always-herenow-life-is/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [A conventional person can be restrained by the prejudices of its tradition. Convention has too many prejudicial restraints. But unconventional is good, because what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-tiwari/a-conventional-person-can-be-restrained-by-the-prejudices-of-its/)

[Maya Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-tiwari/)

> [Whether you're a libertarian liberal or a more egalitarian liberal, the idea is that justice means being non-judgmental with respect to the preferences people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sandel/whether-you-re-a-libertarian-liberal-or-a-more-egalitarian-liberal/)

[Michael Sandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sandel/)

> [My desire is to be a forgiving, non-judgmental person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-turner/my-desire-is-to-be-a-forgiving-non-judgmental-person/)

[Janine Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-turner/)

> [To say that being non-judgmental is better than being judgmental is itself a judgment, and therefore a violation of principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/to-say-that-being-non-judgmental-is-better-than-being-judgmental-is/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [“You are at peace with your world when you don’t judge others. Learning to be non-judgmental is an art. And you learn this art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avis-viswanathan/you-are-at-peace-with-your-world-when-you-don-t-judge-others-learning/)

AVIS Viswanathan

> [In this era of non-judgmental mush, too many Americans have become incapable of facing the brutal reality of unprovoked hatred, based on envy, resentment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/in-this-era-of-non-judgmental-mush-too-many-americans-have-become/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

## More by Jon Kabat-Zinn

> [Karma is often wrongly confused with the notion of a fixed destiny. It is more like an accumulation of tendencies that can lock us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/karma-is-often-wrongly-confused-with-the-notion-of-a-fixed-destiny-it/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Living in a chronic state of unawareness can cause us to miss much of what is most beautiful and meaningful in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/living-in-a-chronic-state-of-unawareness-can-cause-us-to-miss-much-of/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Mindfulness means moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness. It is cultivated by refining our capacity to pay attention, intentionally, in the present moment, and then sustaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/mindfulness-means-moment-to-moment-non-judgmental-awareness-it-is/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Paying attention and awareness are universal capacities of human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/paying-attention-and-awareness-are-universal-capacities-of-human/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [“One practical way to do this is to look at other people and ask yourself if you are really seeing them or just your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/one-practical-way-to-do-this-is-to-look-at-other-people-and-ask/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [I thought it was a stroke of genius that Hans Selye used the word stress, because it's true that if you don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/i-thought-it-was-a-stroke-of-genius-that-hans-selye-used-the-word/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [“dwell in stillness and to observe without reacting and without judging.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/dwell-in-stillness-and-to-observe-without-reacting-and-without-judging/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Generosity is another quality which, like patience, letting go, non-judging, and trust, provides a solid foundation for mindfulness practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/generosity-is-another-quality-which-like-patience-letting-go-non/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [The little things? The little moments? They aren't little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/the-little-things-the-little-moments-they-aren-t-little/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Arriving someplace more desirable at some future time is an illusion. This is it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/arriving-someplace-more-desirable-at-some-future-time-is-an-illusion/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [“Give yourself permission to allow this moment to be exactly as it is, and allow yourself to be exactly as you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/give-yourself-permission-to-allow-this-moment-to-be-exactly-as-it-is/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Generosity is another quality which, like patience, letting go, non-judging, and trust, provides a solid foundation for mindfulness practice. You might experiment with using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/generosity-is-another-quality-which-like-patience-letting-go-non-2/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Science gave me a cosmic religious feeling, and I would get the same feeling when I was dragged to the Met and the Museum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/science-gave-me-a-cosmic-religious-feeling-and-i-would-get-the-same/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [Look at other people and ask yourself if you are really seeing them or just your thoughts about them… Without knowing it, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/look-at-other-people-and-ask-yourself-if-you-are-really-seeing-them/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

> [“In fact, even if distraction does alleviate your pain or help to cope with it some of the time, bringing mindfulness to it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/in-fact-even-if-distraction-does-alleviate-your-pain-or-help-to-cope/)

[Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

[Explore all 252 Jon Kabat-Zinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/)

## More Awareness quotes

> [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/)

[Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/)

> [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/)

[Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/)

> [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/)

[Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/)

> [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/)

[Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/)

> [I know the importance of highly trained awareness of the “moment” and the immediate and intuitive response of the photographer. It should be obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/i-know-the-importance-of-highly-trained-awareness-of-the-moment-and/)

[Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/)

> [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/)

[Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/)

> [“It is not so much about fighting against the ego; it is more about harmonizing with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-sara/it-is-not-so-much-about-fighting-against-the-ego-it-is-more-about/)

[Grace Sara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-sara/)

> [I'm part of a team that raises millions of dollars and raises awareness of HIV and AIDS all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/i-m-part-of-a-team-that-raises-millions-of-dollars-and-raises/)

[Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/)

> [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/)

Vashti Quiroz-Vega

> [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/)

[Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/)

> [The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-bird-with-the-thorn-in-its-breast-it-follows-an-immutable-law-it/)

[Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/)

> [Seeking means: to have a goal; but finding means: to be free, to be receptive, to have no goal. You, O worthy one, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeking-means-to-have-a-goal-but-finding-means-to-be-free-to-be/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/)

[Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/)

[Browse all 4,768 Awareness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Simply put, mindfulness is moment-to-moment non-judgmental awareness.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jon Kabat-Zinn"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/simply-put-mindfulness-is-moment-to-moment-non-judgmental-awareness/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Awareness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/simply-put-mindfulness-is-moment-to-moment-non-judgmental-awareness/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awareness_simply-put-mindfulness-is-moment-to-mome_3094826.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awareness_simply-put-mindfulness-is-moment-to-mome_3094826.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/jon-kabat-zinn-1327_awareness_simply-put-mindfulness-is-moment-to-mome_3094826.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Simply put, mindfulness is moment-to-moment non-judgmental awareness.” — Jon Kabat-Zinn",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jon Kabat-Zinn",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Simply put, mindfulness is moment-to-moment non-judgmental...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/simply-put-mindfulness-is-moment-to-moment-non-judgmental-awareness/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/simply-put-mindfulness-is-moment-to-moment-non-judgmental-awareness/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
