Mindfulness

mavie

Upon leaving the dubs I began to research how other cultures dealt with the big questions of life. During this time I came across the concept of mindfulness, or being present. How to let go of the past and future and take in life moment by moment, as it flows. I found this method to be of invaluable help as I left the dubs.

For those who have discovered this method of meditation, how has it helped you? Also, how do you maintain mindfulness in everyday life?

For those interested in mindfulness I would recommend "Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life" by Jon Kabot-Zinn or "Buddhism Without Beliefs" and "Living With The Devil" by Stephen Batchelor.

Happy Holidays.

poppers

For those who have discovered this method of meditation, how has it helped you? Also, how do you maintain mindfulness in everyday life?

I am familiar with mindfulness although I don't practice it because the reason for it, to remain in the present moment, is something that is already firmly established. What is important is to be fully present with whatever is currently arising. To be fully present means not to filter through the mind what registers through the senses. An important element which arises within the mind is the "idea of me", what we think ourselves to be, commonly referred to as the ego. The ego isn't real, only imagined, but it is strongly identified with as "me". This can be proven by looking for "me" - it won't be found, only ideas and thoughts will be found arising within consciousness. Both ego and mind are about the past or the future, while mindfulness is about what is present right now, so it's vital that what is present doesn't get distorted by thinking or the personal viewpoint of the ego sense.
How has it helped me? Well, for starters all fear has dissolved; mind activity has been reduced enormously; all sense of separation has ended; there is a constant sense of deep peace and silence; all seeking for fulfillment has ended; the emotional rollercoaster I used to ride has ended.
How is it maintained in everyday life? For me it is very easy - I simply remain fully alert to what's happening and when I notice labels or judgment entering into things I know I have slipped back into the mind. Once there is the realization that mind has returned, mind activity ceases and there is a return to presence, a return to "what is".

poppers

I would also recommend you read The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle. He has lots of insight and pointers in how to remain present.

mavie

Thank you for the clear description poppers!

...while mindfulness is about what is present right now, so it's vital that what is present doesn't get distorted by thinking or the personal viewpoint of the ego sense....

How is it maintained in everyday life? For me it is very easy - I simply remain fully alert to what's happening and when I notice labels or judgment entering into things I know I have slipped back into the mind. Once there is the realization that mind has returned, mind activity ceases and there is a return to presence, a return to "what is".

Very simple description, I like to think of this as being objective:

"The quality or state of being just and unbiased"

or, if you must make a judgement:

"judgment based on observable phenomena and uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices".

"

Happy Harvester

Some thoughts I recently started keeping beside my bed and read periodically, from DBT, which is partly based in Buddhist philosophy:

1. I am doing the best I can.

2. I want to improve.

3. I want to do beter, try harder, and be more motivated to change.

4. I may not have caused all of my own problems, but I have to solve them anyway.

5. My life is unbearable/very difficult as it is currently being lived.

6. I must learn new behaviors in all relevant contexts.

7. I cannot fail here.

NON-JUDGMENTALLY

See but DON'T EVALUATE.. Take a nonjudgment stance. Just the facts. Focus on the "what," not the "good" or "bad," the "terrible" or "wonderful," the "should" or "should not."
UNGLUE YOUR OPINIONS from the facts, from the "who, what, when, and where."
ACCEPT each moment, each event as a blanket spread out on the lawn accepts both the reain and the sun, each leaf that falls upon it.
ACKNOWLEDGE the hekpful, the wholdesome, but don't judge it. Acknowledge the harmful, the unwholesome, but don't judge it.
When you find yourself jusdging, DONT JUDGE YOUR JUDGING.

ONE-MINDFULLY

DO ONE THING AT A TIME. When you are eating, eat. When you are walking, walk. When you are bathing, bathe.. When you are working, work. When you are in a group, or a conversation, focus your attentionon on the very moment your are in with the other person. When you are thinking, think. When you are worrying, worry. When you are planning, plan. When youare remembering, remember. Do each thing with all of your attention.
If other actions, or other thoughts, or strong feelings distract you, LET GO OF DISTRACTIONS and go back to what you are doing -- again, and again, and again.
CONCENTRATE YOUR MIND. If you find you are doing two things at once, stop and go back to one thing at a time.

EFFECTIVELY

FOCUS ON WHAT WORKS. Do what needs to be done in each situation. Stay away from "fair and "unfair," "right" and "wrong, "should" and "should not."
PLAY BY THE RULES. don't "cut off your nose to spite your face."
Act as SKILLFULLY as you can, meeting the needs of the situation you are in. Not the situation you wish you were in; not the one that is just; not the one that is more comfortable; not the one that . . . .
Keep an eye on YOUR OBJECTIVES in the situation and do what is necessary to achieve them.
LET GO of vengeance, useless anger, and righteousness that hurts you and doesn't work.

Happy Harvester

Although "I cannot fail here," I feel I have come rather close lately. BUT, that's what therapy is for, huh?

poppers

I enjoyed your post, Happy Harvester, especially the second part on non-judgment, one-mindedness, and effective action. As for the first part, who is this "I" that is making those statements? Can you find it, or is it only imagined? If "you" are only an imagined character then who/what are you really? What keeps the "I-thought" in place?

changeling

Thank you guys. I'm very interested in this subject though I'm not "there" yet. I do yoga but true meditation is a skill I have not yet achieved.

changeling

poppers

From changling: I'm very interested in this subject though I'm not "there" yet. I do yoga but true meditation is a skill I have not yet achieved.

You are closer than you think, changling. Reread Happy Harvester's bullets, there is profound wisdom there. As for "meditation" - there are hundreds of kinds of meditation techniques, but the best is this: whatever you do, just do that with one pointed attention - this is summed up in the Zen saying, "When I eat, I eat; when I drink, I drink". This kind of meditation can be done all day long, and the effect of that is the spontaneous reduction of mind activity. With the reduction of mental activity will spring the realization that YOU are something beyond the mind, that YOU are free of the mind and the suffering that arises there. It is all about being fully and completely present in this very moment - when fully present mind stops all by itself; there is no need to purposely try to stop the mind, just be fully present with what is and it happens on its own. "Meditation" generally has the purpose of intentionally trying to stop the mind, so it can be an impediment to presence. Again, reread the bullets in HH's post because they are excellent.

R.Crusoe

There is something powerful about being mindful of the second that you are in uncluttered by all memory and future. For those who make this a life choice, I imagine it is something different being together than when they are alone, but I will not ponder such an ambition lest I lose the moment that I am in alone!

Mindfulness

Share this