Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a ladder to growing discernment. It is a practice that includes nonjudgmental awareness of your sensations, emotions, thoughts and behaviors. 

It can be used during Yoga forms/gestures, breathing exercises or everyday activities. 

Through practice you may establish that some of these thoughts, emotions, sensations, and even behaviors do not define or belong to the “Real unchanging you” (that is they change while being observed, many are (eventually) temporary, and many are most likely created by instinct). 

This realization can help support a feeling of increased peace and comfort. 

You are not your pain, you are not your rambling thoughts. You are someone who can watch these “objects”, and yet not fall victim to them.

Mindfulness facilitates inquiry and a solid connection to the living and felt present. How does it differ from single point meditation (usually the regular repetition of a sound or phrase that leads to stillness)? Well, although single point meditation is a fine way to develop focus, discernment and a state of rejuvenation, being in the present or self-inquiry is not the purpose of pure Tantric bija mantra practices.

You might consider working with body-based grounding exercises to help you feel more secure and present during these practices. Work to become balanced, and ground-embracing, whether sitting, standing, walking or performing other physical work. 

The practice of Mindfulness is not designed to help re “live” trauma, it is attention to your body, your sensations, emotions, and thoughts with compassion and without judgment. 

The practice of mindfulness might use the body, breath, a question (not necessarily to be answered), a Truth or aspiration, or simply a sound as a foothold to keep you in the present while supporting the endeavor of noticing changes. Notice sensations, notice change, and maybe hear what you should do next. 

Although popular in many meditation schools, during most of our Mindfulness practices, we will not be repeating a description of our activity while we are performing it, as in: I am eating, I am stepping, etc. 

Saying you are in the present does not put your attention there; your attention is on your words. Yes, an anchor is important for many of us mortals as we attempt to remain in the present. We will use the traditional anchor of breathing. Not by saying, “I am breathing”, but by the perception of breathing only. Don’t we color the experience of the present by being concerned with words placed on top?