The great Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh uses the term “Mindfulness” to refer to “keeping one’s consciousness alive to the present reality”.
Mindfulness is a deep awareness of the present moment which enables us to see all the components of our existence for what they truly are. The more mindful we become, the more we can see and understand the true nature of reality. It is a simple and natural skill but it’s also important to emphasise that there is nothing special to believe in. We just do it and the results come naturally.
The concept of Mindfulness originates in the Buddha’s ‘Middle Way’ teachings which are commonly known as “Buddhism”. Mindfulness first appears in the Noble Eightfold Path which is often described as the Buddha’s method for escaping from suffering, the roots of which are greed, delusion and aversion. It’s referred to specifically as ‘Right Mindfulness’ and is closely associated with ‘Right Effort’ and ‘Right Concentration’ which are aggregated in this system into a broader category of ‘Mental Discipline’. The other characteristics of the Noble Eightfold Path are also aggregated into two more categories which are ‘Wisdom’ and ‘Ethical Conduct’. According to the Buddha’s path, when the Noble Eightfold Path is practised correctly through mindfulness and meditation, we are able to eradicate all suffering in our lives. All 8 steps are equally important to cultivate but Right Mindfulness is essential for all the others to work together so that they all have positive influences on our lives. Equally, if they are not practised correctly, i.e. without a high level of awareness, they can lead to prolonged and more intense suffering. Mindfulness is also considered one of the 7 Factors of Enlightenment in the Buddhist system which, again, highlights its importance.
A key skill in both meditation and mindfulness is to train the mind with concentration so that it stays where we put it, rather than being distracted and deluded by unpredictable thought patterns. However, regular practice is the key driver behind the successful implementation of these techniques.
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