DukeZhou, and those interested,
That (outwardly mindfullness) is actually the fist step and most needed not only for one self but also for society: virtue (sila), which is aside of the most importand five precepts very broad, incl. such as paying respect, render help, doning ones duties, take care of what is in ones own sphere.
A person not having mastered outwardly "mindfulness", thinks like even how to wear cloth, how to eat... how will such a person ever come to mind? Able to trace bad habits back to defilements. Not possible. How ever, outwardly does not mean to "contoll" others but oneself.
So remember watching after oneself/others not wrongly.
As far a able to see, less, especially in the sphere of "Buddhists" are really training even the basics of the path but think they can be even Buddhas having a behaviour like kids from the street, feeling obligated like kings, taking care like if handicaped, being generous like dogs... if looking to their teaches, things become clear... "Wie der Herr, so's G'scheer", is it said." Not restrained in their sense faculties and behaviour at all but teaching mindfulness: the fool pay it.
Let them train their "householder-equanimity" since when all the fruits of their behaviour ripes, it will require much of equanimity (which is actually the reason why doing the "high" first, not capable to master even the low)
On denying Defilement, is maybe good on topic.
Since they would often just say things like:
The Buddha's Teaching is about ending suffering completely, ie. to reach Nibbana. Sure there are mundane benefits but that is not really the goal of following the Noble Eightfold Path. Freeing oneself from the cycle of rebirth is.
Maybe good to know [the unruly eight kinds of men] (AN 8.14), to understand the usual approches of "Buddhists" generally. Right?
Skillful virtues have freedom from remorse as their purpose, freedom from remorse as their reward.
"In this way, mental qualities lead on to mental qualities, mental qualities bring mental qualities to their consummation, for the sake of going from the near to the Further Shore. (AN 11.2)
Having not mastered, doing not have unspotted virtue (mundane mindfulness) at fist plase, the path is actually still far away. Those telling different either deny their defilements or deliberatly cheat.
Ajahn Chah:
The Lost Wallet
It's as if you leave home and lose your wallet. It fell out of your pocket onto the road away back there, but as long as you don't realize what happened you're at ease — at ease because you don't yet know what this ease is for. It's for the sake of dis-ease at a later time. When you eventually see that you've really lost your money: That's when you feel dis-ease — when it's right in your face.
The same holds true with our bad and good actions. The Buddha taught us to acquaint ourselves with these things. If we aren't acquainted with these things, we'll have no sense of right or wrong, good or bad.
Take care and maintain your virtues, all mundane conducts, merits fast get lost.
Are the practical, mundane benefits of mindfulness simply not emphasized, and if so, why?
Because they are not capable, yet there is good ground to make just business, anyway. It's a matter of marked, that's it.
[Note: This is a gift of Dhamma, not meant for commercial purpose or other kinds of low wordily gains by means of trade and exchange]