All are human beings, each society has a different way of life. So therefore in both sides there is good and bad. And also the Buddhist monk, has many things to learn from the Western philosophy and Western science. There are many things to help my own practice, and of course some among the environment, there are positive environmental forces, positive things. A feel sense from society there are good things and bad things.
Mindfulness is hard work.
I am practising it to reduce my tendency towards frustration and anger. Of course, in these practices the time is the measure factor. From my own experiences I suggest we human beings, we have this marvellous potential and determination and we can make effort constantly without loosing focus. But years and years later our minds can change. Even though month by month you can't see any change or development, but continuously over the years, without losing hope or determination, then I can see some hope and some development.