[mynaflzak]

I have an idea of what the point is but I need to ask and clarify: What is the point of mindfulness?

How does mindfulness work in reaching the goals of Buddhism?

Why does mindfulness work?

Why does mindfulness seem to give you a peace?

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

What has mindfulness done for you in your spiritual walk?

[7UENf0w7]

Hi Gerrardthor,

In my own practice, 'mindfulness' can just be as simple as remembering to bring my awareness into the here and now and be fully present with whatever is happening in my daily life.


Here's a quote from Ajahn Chah about mindfulness from 'A Still Forest Pool'...



Mindfulness is knowing what is here, noticing, being aware. Clear comprehension knows the context in which the present is occurring. When mindfulness and clear comprehension act together, their companion, wisdom, always appears to help them complete any task.

Watch the mind, watch the process of experience arising and ceasing. At first the movement is constant as soon as one thing passes, another arises, and we seem to see more arising than ceasing. As time goes by we see more clearly, understanding how things arise so fast, until we reach the point where they arise, cease, and do not arise again.

With mindfulness you can see the real owner of things. Do you think this is your world, your body? It is the world's world, the body's body. If you tell it, Don't get old, does the body listen? Does your stomach ask permission to get sick? We only rent this house; why not find out who really owns it?


http://www.dhammatalks.net/Books2/Aj...ormal Practice



There's also a booklet at Buddhanet on Mindfulness which is by Ajahn Sumedho


http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/deathless.pdf

[onelovemp]

Mindfulness means 'remembering' or 'recollecting'. it means to remember to practise & abide in the path factors

[yahyynzer]

Hello gerradthor,

The following hopefully will provide satisfying answers to your questions. The video is a bit long but you can skip the first hour and start watching when Thich Nhat Hanh starts talking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijnt-eXukwk

Regards,
Bundokji

[Adamdjeffe]

Thanks for the link Bundokji, I am watching it now and it is good to see Thich Nhat Hanh in such health.

[kabelshik]

Mindfulness. For me:

Feeling my heart. Searching DEEP in meditation on life's problems and events. This helps me in my daily life, and helps me to make GREAT decisions.

Also, a lot of inspiration is from Thich Nhat Hanh, I own most of his books, if anyone wants to read them online, let me know (:

Mindfulness is important! You asked

How does mindfulness work in reaching the goals of Buddhism?
Well, it helps me to live in the present moment. If you are always aware of you, and whats around you, you can fully analyze and fully enjoy your day Mindfulness keeps me STRAIGHT, and keeps me full of heart.

Why does mindfulness work?
To me, its getting into a mindset of the heart. You should consider everything, down to your breathing. I try mindful breathing a lot. It helps me clear my mind while doing things (such as walking) and keeps me from straying, and getting depressed...
Why does mindfulness seem to give you a peace?
If you are mindful, i find not much else is troubling...
What has mindfulness done for you in your spiritual walk?

Filled my heart with so much happiness. You would not BELIEVE

-gabby

[Viyzarei]

Mindfulness, or the word most often translated as "mindfulness" (sati in Pali), means "remembering" as Element noted.

If you read the Pali texts about mindfulness, you'll find it simply means to be aware of what is coming up in experience, as it is coming up, without getting trapped in it. For example, you notice a particular emotion. You notice that it consists of a particular sensory tone that is either pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. You notice it comes with a mental object (thought). You know that it is not-self. You know that clinging to it brings no satisfaction. You know that it will pass away.

(These are the three qualities of impermanence (anicca), not-self (anatta), and unsatisfactoriness (dukkha)). You do not forget that it's just a feeling or a thought, and thus do not get caught in it, don't identify with it, don't get swept along by it and end up acting on it.

Developing this ability to remember what's right in front of you (parimukkha), and gives you the power to then renounce unwholesome/unskillful habits of mind and conduct.

[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. :-)