Mindfulness - What are your thoughts about it?

[loverofhumanity]

Hi Everyone,

Mindfulness seems to be mentioned so often now in various courses and it seems to be very popular. Why?

Over the past 2 months I have been studying mindfulness and completed a 4 week course at a university. I’m still new to it and wish to learn more.

So I would like to hear from you guys here of your opinions, thoughts about it and your experiences.

What are some good free learning sources you may wish to share and do you think mindfulness can help with things like peace and harmony in society? Can or does it change us and if so how?

 

[exchemist]

Hi Everyone,

Mindfulness seems to be mentioned so often now in various courses and it seems to be very popular. Why?

Over the past 2 months I have been studying mindfulness and completed a 4 week course at a university. I’m still new to it and wish to learn more.

So I would like to hear from you guys here of your opinions, thoughts about it and your experiences.

What are some good free learning sources you may wish to share and do you think mindfulness can help with things like peace and harmony in society? Can or does it change us and if so how?

It seems to me like a laboriously re-learnt and rebranded, atheist version of traditional prayer and meditation.

 

[Secret Chief]

Hi Everyone,

Mindfulness seems to be mentioned so often now in various courses and it seems to be very popular. Why?

Over the past 2 months I have been studying mindfulness and completed a 4 week course at a university. I’m still new to it and wish to learn more.

So I would like to hear from you guys here of your opinions, thoughts about it and your experiences.

What are some good free learning sources you may wish to share and do you think mindfulness can help with things like peace and harmony in society? Can or does it change us and if so how?

It's basically been lifted from Buddhist, specifically Zen, meditation. I think it was started by Jon Kabat-Zinn.
- Jon Kabat-Zinn - Wikipedia

 

[stvdv]

Hi Everyone,

Mindfulness seems to be mentioned so often now in various courses and it seems to be very popular. Why?

Over the past 2 months I have been studying mindfulness and completed a 4 week course at a university. I’m still new to it and wish to learn more.

So I would like to hear from you guys here of your opinions, thoughts about it and your experiences.

What are some good free learning sources you may wish to share and do you think mindfulness can help with things like peace and harmony in society? Can or does it change us and if so how?

Mindfulness originated also long ago in India. I practise it since ca. 1990. Ramana Maharishi taught a few Westerners

I find it a great practice

Practice of "mindfulness" reduces the "full mind" into "empty mind", which is the key to peace

If you want to know deep Spiritual truth associated with mindfulness, I suggest the source, the Master, Ramana Maharshi

Note: The day Ramana Maharishi died, Sai Baba said "Ramana now merged with me". Vibuthi (sacred ash) poured out of His foot

In India its called "Be a Witness", starting with the mind (worldly), finally transcending the mind (Spiritual)

 

[ChristineM]

It seems to me like a laboriously re-learnt and rebranded, atheist version of traditional prayer and meditation.

You mean religious people cant be mindful?

 

[stvdv]

it seems to be very popular. Why?

People seem to get smarter I guess, because they see the value of this valuable insight

your opinions, thoughts about

I think its a very valuable tool, but I am not sure if the spiritually part is fully incorporated in "mindfulness" (if this is the Western version)

What are some good free learning sources

Ramana Maharishi gives all spiritual context in a small booklet (ca. 20 pages maybe 20 lines each; the real Master, not wasting a word, I love Him)

Can or does it change us and if so how?

Yes, it changes us ... Hahaha, trick question ... "Who Am I". So, no it does not change us

 

[ChristineM]

Mindfulness is simple human ability to be aware of environment and situations around us.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Hi Everyone,

Mindfulness seems to be mentioned so often now in various courses and it seems to be very popular. Why?

Over the past 2 months I have been studying mindfulness and completed a 4 week course at a university. I’m still new to it and wish to learn more.

So I would like to hear from you guys here of your opinions, thoughts about it and your experiences.

What are some good free learning sources you may wish to share and do you think mindfulness can help with things like peace and harmony in society? Can or does it change us and if so how?

Mindfulness promotes physical and psychological health for those who practice it by changing processes in the brain. I'm not sure what direct affect it would have with peace and harmony in society, unless you think healthier people would bring that to fruition.

Harvard researchers study how mindfulness may change the brain in depressed patients

 

[Aupmanyav]

Practice of "mindfulness" reduces the "full mind" into "empty mind", which is the key to peace.

Yeah great practice. But mindfulness is not "empty mind". What will an "empty mind" be mindful of? Mindfulness is to be completely aware of one thing at any moment to the exclusion of any other thing.

 

[sun rise]

To me, mindfulness is the same as being a witness to one's thoughts and moods. It's a form of detachment and observation. The witness is detached and thinks "the body is feeling this and that". "The brain is thinking these thoughts". "The personality is feeling glad, sad or mad".

I find it helpful

 

[Thief]

Hi Everyone,

Mindfulness seems to be mentioned so often now in various courses and it seems to be very popular. Why?

Over the past 2 months I have been studying mindfulness and completed a 4 week course at a university. I’m still new to it and wish to learn more.

So I would like to hear from you guys here of your opinions, thoughts about it and your experiences.

What are some good free learning sources you may wish to share and do you think mindfulness can help with things like peace and harmony in society? Can or does it change us and if so how?

so ...in four weeks you have gathered enough....thought
to open a topic that will take the rest of your life

how thoughtful

 

[Windwalker]

Mindfulness is simple human ability to be aware of environment and situations around us.

Which is rare, and needs to be practiced. Most people are unaware, asleep, stuck in their heads inside "thought world" and not present in either their bodies or the world around them. We have to train the mind to be present, since we let it be distracted most of the time. That's why they refer to mindfulness as a practice.

 

[ChristineM]

Which is rare, and needs to be practiced. Most people are unaware, asleep, stuck in their heads inside "thought world" and not present in either their bodies or the world around them. We have to train the mind to be present, since we let it be distracted most of the time. That's why they refer to mindfulness as a practice.

i have no problems considering my environment, i am surprised others do

 

[Windwalker]

i have no problems considering my environment, i am surprised others do

You must be Enlightened then. As a spiritual practice, that means it's something we have to cultivate. Something we have to work on. Something that is not the normal state for us humans.

Mindfulness, is not the same thing as thinking about something, or considering it, as you said. It's not cognitive in nature, but beyond that. Mindfulness can actually see the thought processes themselves, and is outside of that as its Witness. It's more like just holding the flashlight to light the whole room, rather than trying to think about anything in particular to understand or comprehend it mentally. It's being quite in the mind, and aware of everything without discriminations.

In Buddhism, which goes back over a couple thousand years, mindfulness is part of the 7 Factors of Enlightenment:

7 Factors of Enlightenment

When the mind is sluggish, it is not the proper time for cultivating the following factors of enlightenment: tranquility, concentration, and equanimity,
because a sluggish mind can hardly be aroused by them.

When the mind is sluggish, it is the proper time for cultivating the following factors of enlightenment:
investigation of phenomena (dhammavicaya), energy (viriya) and rapture (piti),
because a sluggish mind can easily be aroused by them.

When the mind is restless, it is not the proper time for cultivating the following factors of enlightenment: investigation of the phenomena, energy and rapture,
because an agitated mind can hardly be quietened by them.

When the mind is restless, it is the proper time for cultivating the following factors of enlightenment:
tranquility (passaddhi), concentration (samadhi) and equanimity (upekkha),
because an agitated mind can easily be quietened by them.

"But as for mindfulness (sati), monks, I declare that it is always useful."

(SN 46:53)
Descriptions in order from above:
dhammavicaya: Dhamma vicaya - Wikipedia
viriya: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C4%ABrya
piti: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%ABti
passaddhi: Passaddhi - Wikipedia
samadhi: Samadhi - Wikipedia
upekkha: Upekṣā - Wikipedia​

You can see from the above how that mindfulness is set apart from cognitive functions, like concentration or consideration?

 

[ChristineM]

You must be Enlightened then. As a spiritual practice, that means it's something we have to cultivate. Something we have to work on. Something that is not the normal state for us humans.

Mindfulness, is not the same thing as thinking about something, or considering it, as you said. It's not cognitive in nature, but beyond that. Mindfulness can actually see the thought processes themselves, and is outside of that as its Witness. It's more like just holding the flashlight to light the whole room, rather than trying to think about anything in particular to understand or comprehend it mentally. It's being quite in the mind, and aware of everything without discriminations.

In Buddhism, which goes back over a couple thousand years, mindfulness is part of the 7 Factors of Enlightenment:

7 Factors of Enlightenment

When the mind is sluggish, it is not the proper time for cultivating the following factors of enlightenment: tranquility, concentration, and equanimity,
because a sluggish mind can hardly be aroused by them.

When the mind is sluggish, it is the proper time for cultivating the following factors of enlightenment:
investigation of phenomena (dhammavicaya), energy (viriya) and rapture (piti),
because a sluggish mind can easily be aroused by them.

When the mind is restless, it is not the proper time for cultivating the following factors of enlightenment: investigation of the phenomena, energy and rapture,
because an agitated mind can hardly be quietened by them.

When the mind is restless, it is the proper time for cultivating the following factors of enlightenment:
tranquility (passaddhi), concentration (samadhi) and equanimity (upekkha),
because an agitated mind can easily be quietened by them.

"But as for mindfulness (sati), monks, I declare that it is always useful."

(SN 46:53)
Descriptions in order from above:
dhammavicaya: Dhamma vicaya - Wikipedia
viriya: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C4%ABrya
piti: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%ABti
passaddhi: Passaddhi - Wikipedia
samadhi: Samadhi - Wikipedia
upekkha: Upekṣā - Wikipedia​

You can see from the above how that mindfulness is set apart from cognitive functions, like concentration or consideration?

What is Mindfulness? - Mindful

Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.​

Of course people can make it complicated and perhaps even earn money from those willing to pay them.

 

[Windwalker]

What is Mindfulness? - Mindful

Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.​

Of course people can make it complicated and perhaps even earn money from those willing to pay them.

Buddhists have been teaching this for thousands of years. So, I do have to say I am impressed you're a natural at this, whereas other practitioners have to cultivate this. Some people are just naturally Enlightened. You must be one of those.

 

[ChristineM]

Buddhists have been teaching this for thousands of years. So, I do have to say I am impressed you're a natural at this, whereas other practitioners have to cultivate this. Some people are just naturally Enlightened. You must be one of those.

I am just me. And mindful.org agrees with me. Perhaps Buddhism is teaching what is natural anyway

I do think that modern living can distract from what is around you and so special care to cultivate mindfulness may be needed for some people.

 

[Thief]

are we crossing ? mindfulness with awareness

 

[ChristineM]

are we crossing ? mindfulness with awareness

I don't think
What is Mindfulness? - Mindful
is

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I feel it's when you're briefly aware of your own existence. Then you experience gratitude and be mindful that you're alive and that in and of itself is the goal of living and everything else is influenced off of that. Actually keeping that sense of gratitude is quite different. Not sure if I can meditate for hours but I think mindfulness in this respect is something many want to achieve. It doesn't last long though.