My understanding is that proper Buddhist practice is about studying the sutras and developing your mind, using mind-clearing exercises for rest and as a palate-cleanser; this is analogous to athletes alternating between workouts and recovery periods.
The mindfulness meditation that's popular in the West is a watered-down, stripped-down, pasteurized version of Buddhism, meant to lull people into complacency with the fuzzy relaxing stuff, all nuanced philosophy & critical thinking excised, since that might lead them to reject their servitude.