MindfulnessSati

The word "Mindfulness" in English is a translation of "sati" / "smṛti". Unfortunately, in English, the word takes on a clinical tone, with decontextualization and loss of meaning. Most of the meaning lost is ethical in nature, although "ethics" here also refer to personal ethics (for example, yamas/niyamas, and the Bodhisattva vow). The french word "pleine conscience" seems a bit more meaningful and accurate at first glance, but I'm not familiar enough with French to comment; I am only including it here for contrapunct.

"sati" and "smṛti" both literally mean "recollection." Whereas "sati" has the deeper meaning of present-moment attentiveness with ethical connotations, the word "smṛti" leans more towards recollection (of scriptures, Dharma, etc). Since "sati" is Pali it naturally is influenced by Theravada more; meanwhile, "smṛti" is Sanskrit and hence more Mahayana.

Western meditators don't normally understand that Mindfulness is an ethical system, and relies on ethical discipline to deepen focus (and, vice versa, to use the gained focus to deepen the ethical discipline, ultimately resulting in what is often termed "Liberation," although an acceptable secular term could be "the reduction of suffering.").

Language	Term	Meaning	Notes
English	mindfulness	Present-centered awareness; recollection of breath, body, thoughts, emotions. Lacks built-in ethical framing.	A technical or clinical term in modern usage, often secular.
French	pleine conscience	Full, embodied awareness of present experience; recollection with ethical and emotional sensitivity.	Secular term with strong Buddhist influence with ethical connotations (e.g. Thích Nhất Hạnh).
Pāli	sati / सति / સતિ	Present-moment attentiveness and recollection of Dhamma, body, feelings, mind, and mind-objects.	Rooted in Theravāda; ethically grounded in the Eightfold Path.
Sanskrit	smṛti / स्मृति / સ્મૃતિ	Recollection with ethical presence; awareness of Dharma, teachings, spiritual goals, mental states.	Used in both early and Mahāyāna contexts, with ethical grounding in Eightfold Path and Bodhisattva ideology.
Tibetan	dran pa / དྲན་པ་	Recollection and sustained attention on meditation objects, vows, precepts, and enlightened qualities.	Central in Vajrayāna and Mahāyāna frameworks.