Mindfulness and Religion
Mindfulness meditation originates from traditional ancient Eastern and Buddhist philosophies and dates back around 2500 years. However, you don’t have to be Buddhist or Hindu to practice meditation. You can meditate and still practice your own religion or no religion at all.
It's useful to understand Buddhism as a discipline or process rather than as a belief system. The Buddha did not preach rules and doctrines about 'waking-up' and becoming more aware, but rather taught and encouraged people how to 'wake-up' for themselves. And the way we 'wake-up' is through direct experience, without mental filters and the barriers of our preconceptions.
Mindfulness and meditation can be practised in an entirely secular way. Jon Kabat-Zinn introduced the concept of mindfulness to the western world by incorporating techniques like meditation, breathing, and yoga into a holistic, non-secular, treatment for those struggling with chronic pain and stress as a result of physical illness (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction).