[6Rexw51X]

Hi gerrardthor

I’ve just seen this thread and don’t know if you are still around. :-)

“What is the point of mindfulness?”

-To observe/know your own mind (thought, feeling etc.)

“How does mindfulness work in reaching the goals of Buddhism?”[

-If I recalled it right, the Buddha said it was the only way.
[Sorry, though I’m a native Thai but my Buddhist knowledge is so rusty. It has been very long time and I haven’t read anything about it (in Thai) for almost 30 years. That time “mindfulness” in English word still meant “meditation.” And I have to confess that our friends here know Thai Buddhism a lot more than me. :-)]
Mindfulness is the only (right) way to reach the goal in Buddhism. The goal is to know your mind. Why? Because your mind brings you your own sufferings. Knowing your mind is the only way to go beyond it, to stop your sufferings. Frankly speak, Buddhism is only about the four noble truths. It’s about suffering (dukka), the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering and the path leading to the cessation of suffering. Mindfulness is the way to know the four noble truths and brings to the cessation of suffering. It’s the path leading to the cessation of suffering.

Why does mindfulness work?

-It’s the very right tool. Meditation might clam your mind but you cannot stay in that meditation forever. On the contrary, mindfulness is about the real life situation. You practice it to get better and better in handle with your real life situations. I won’t bother you with the details of its practice here because I believe you are already practicing it. :-)

“Why does mindfulness seem to give you a peace?”

-Beware of that trap. Some venerable old Thai Buddhist monk used to warn about that. It was like you found a pearl while you were walking to find the upstream. It would lure you to stop your searching. If you waste your time to admire that pearl you will never reach the upstream, the source of the suffering.
Besides, it always stays still before the big storm coming. It’ just a pause for a while, not a knockout yet. :-)

“If all is an illusion why in this understanding does mindfulness of the illusion bring us ascension out of the illusion?”

-A bit trickery but still a good question :-)
The only answer (with a bit trickery) is “and how do know that doubt/question didn’t come from the illusion to stop you from doing the right thing? How many times we feel that doing good is harder than doing bad? How many times those who are practicing mindfulness have to feel that? Why I’m doing this mindfulness? Is it worth? etc. The only answer is the good thing is always hard to do. Good medicine always tastes bitter. Only you could tell that you are feeling better or not. This way makes your sufferings less and less or not. But you have to take it a time. Don’t give up too soon. The water in your kettle will be boiled so late (or will never be boiled) if you open its lid so many times to look at its result. :-)

“What has mindfulness done for you in your spiritual walk?”

-Hmm…really sorry, I cannot answer that question because it’s forbidden in the Buddhist/spiritual walk. But it suffices to say that I tried so many ways (meditation) before and the mindfulness has been the only way for me for more than 30 years. :-)