This study examines the elements from the teachings of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Sri Ramana Maharshi that Jon Kabat-Zinn has incorporated in his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). There is often a discussion on Buddhist roots of MBSR and mindfulness, however, the influence of Hindu spiritual teachers is not yet explored. Kabat-Zinn in one of his articles cites Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Sri Ramana Maharshi, who had an impact on the formation of MBSR. Both Hindu spiritual teachers became known in the United States through the English translations of their teachings. They neither had strategies to promote their teachings, nor claimed worldly benefits of yoga and meditation. On the other hand, Kabat-Zinn strategically promoted yoga and meditation for health benefits. Despite such differences, certain ideological similarities can be found between Kabat-Zinn and both Hindu spiritual teachers. First, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Kabat-Zinn emphasize watching and witnessing the mind without judgment. Second, they explain the importance of consistent practice and patience. Furthermore, they suggest practicing a non-doing approach for the dissolvement of ‘I’ (ego) and effortless activity. Among the practices suggested by Sri Ramana Maharshi, Kabat-Zinn focuses on the self-inquiry practice and neti-neti approach. Self-inquiry practice means asking the question ‘Who am I?’ while meditating, and neti-neti means negating all the identities attached to oneself. Moreover, he asserts practicing meditation in daily life, which is found in Sri Ramana Maharshi’s books. In this way, both Hindu spiritual teachers contributed to the ideology and practice of MBSR.

The later novels of Aldous Huxley have not been so highly evaluated by readers and critics owing to their tendency towards mysticism. Such an assessment includes the author’s final work, Island. However, this ecological and utopian novel relies on a variety of literary techniques that contribute to its rich and complex narrative style. This paper attempts to disclose the arts of fiction Huxley employs in order to clarify his ecological standpoint.

A close reading of Island ultimately reveals the novel as Bildungsroman and one which engages stream-of-consciousness techniques in its characterization of the story’s protagonist. Included in such an approach is the author’s use of contradiction ― a common feature of utopian-style narratives ― and contrived in such a way as to link with the novel’s primary theme: ecology. The author’s elaborate characterization of antagonists also functions to criticize a primary western value ― consumerism ― while presenting his ideal figure engaged in an ecological life based on Oriental Buddhism. In so doing, he was able to champion human development over technological development in the search for solutions to environmental issues.