What is Mindfulness?

The practice of mindfulness refers to our efforts and discipline at being fully present in the now -- in our lives. Oftentimes we dwell in the past, in what could have been, or what was. At other times we spend much of our time scripting the future, or living particular narratives as if we were on autopilot. Mindfulness is the practice of living in the present moment by devoting conscious attention to our experience of the now.

Mindfulness involves a conscious direction of our awareness. Therefore, mindfulness is not just awareness of our states of mind, but deep looking and contemplation of that moment, of the possible roots of such a state of mind, its implications and consequences, possible triggers, feelings generated, and our habitual responses. In other words, a practice of mindfulness includes purposefulness of attention, of directed awareness, so that we may stay with, and learn from, the experience of the moment.

A mindfulness practice helps us cultivate stillness, stability and peace. It nourishes our capacity to contemplate situations with more care, and enhances our ability to respond wisely and with compassion. So we stop, listen, and look deeply within to cultivate being in harmony with all that surrounds us and which ultimately is constitutive of who we are. Hence, mindfulness practice nourishes an understanding of the interconnectedness of our lives with the larger world we inhabit.

That does not mean however, that the practice of mindfulness meditation is some “new-age” way to achieve some exalted state of luminosity or ecstatic bliss. Being in the present means embracing awareness with all its implications and complications. It means living constantly with questions about how best to nurture mindfulness when faced with the challenges that manifest in everyday life.

Above all we need to remember that mindfulness is a practice, and as such the goal is not perfection, but continued practice, and development of a life in harmony.

[Editorial Note]: This is a revised "What is Mindfulness" definition (I'm well aware one can't really satisfy, and it was time to update this page). I took out (unpublished) a brief exchange from early 2005 between myself and another person that had commented often on this blog. That exchange, and in fact, that whole situation had become toxic. Keeping it here for the last two years reminded me of that, but also seemed increasingly irrelevant as a way to illustrate anything anymore. Both of us involved in the exchange were not so mindful and had let our passions get in the way. I did leave the comments by those folks who came after and wisely shared their insight about some of what they read. No, I did not take my own comments out because they made me look bad. I don't think they did. They did make me look human, with all that entails. Besides, if you read the blog you'll find plenty of opportunity to see un-mindfulness, or mindlessness. I want this page to be about something else.

It should, for instance, spark plenty of questions.

What is a practice? How do you practice mindfulness? Is a mindfulness practice a way of being docile subjects? How do we speak our truth without creating more suffering or harm? How do social/cultural contexts affect or shape our ability to be mindful (or facilitates our mindlessness)? How might we practice being present within a technological and mediated world that seeks to constantly disperse our attention? How is it that compassion emerges out of a mindfulness practice? Do I need to be Buddhist, or be "Zen-like" in order to practice mindfulness? Good. They have answers, but as a practice part of the purpose of this blog is to explore such questions, and a great part of it is to, as Rainer Maria Rilke suggests, "live the questions now."

Comments

[rufusmcc]

An enlightening article on mindfulness, i should say.
The 'what might have beens' of life can be resolved without much animosity or grief if one is mindful of the present, which nurtures and nourishes in the words of the writer, "an understanding of the interconnectedness of our lives with the larger world we inhabit."
Referring to the beautiful lines, "look deeply within to cultivate awareness and understanding", it is no surprise that even Carl Jung vouches to the same fact in his permutations of analytical psychology by saying "Who looks outside dreams, who looks inside awakes".
The carpe-diem motif of this article on Mindfulness deserves commendation.

[huney_doo]

I am new to all of this. Buddhism and weblogs. I am interested in learning more and look forward to reading, posting and learning. I have a nephew who has influenced me in this area. He talks of mindfulness and different things have "quirked" my interest. The title of mindfulness and some of the things he talks to me about influenced my decision to read this thread. I must say, I was a bit surprised to see the hateful sounding post/reaction to the original post. In the little bit I have been learning thru my research it talks so much about peace and well being for all. One thing that I remembered while reading all of this was...

Let us live happily, without hate amongst those who hate. Let us dwell unhating amidst hateful men.
Let us live happily, in good health amongst those who are sick.
Let us dwell in good health amidst ailing men.
Let us live happily, without yearning for sensual pleasures amongst those who yearn for them.
Let us dwell without yearning amidst those who yearn.
Let us live happily, we who have no impediments. We shall subsist on joy even as the radiant gods.

I still look forward to learning. We all are learning and none are perfect. I hope ya'll were able to work your differences out. I am still trying to work out the mindfulness part, but it makes more sense every day.

just wanted to say hi. I only hope it isn't too late to post to this thread. I just realised the dates on the comments started back in 2004 and were replied to a year later etc. I was hoping to find a blog that was more posted to on a regular basis.

c ya'll

[fuzzylogic]

I agree. This thread should be respponded to more regularly. I see thruth in the words that each of you speak, but also pride, ego and defiensiveness. I can only see these things because I see them in myself and can therefore recognize them. IThat last posting however showed a sincere curiosity in a new way, a non-attached, unbiased approach to a path that can bring people closer to themselves and others. I Hope the next person to see this thread helps to contribute in leading it more in the dorection of wisdom and compassion rather than attack/defense.
Metta to all, and all the best for a peaceful 2007.

[Michael Bains]

Shelter from the storm
The wind makes the trees attack
mindful, I rebuild

namaste

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