ED; The concept of mindfulness explained in your article is a concept created by the writer. According to myself experience with mindfulness there is no difference between awareness and mindfulness . Another thing is that here mindfulness is used with a purpose; "The purpose of release stress". There is no purpose in real mindfulness except of the one of bringing body and mind to the present moment. However, one could use mindfulness to pay attention to an specific object such an organ of the body, a distressed mind, its sensations, images, thoughts.... and the impact that is having in the rest of the body....and concentrate into it in order to release its pain or uncomfort. That will be mindfulness over an specific object. But basically the concept of minfulness is to be aware of body, mind, within and around by using conscious breathing. If one practices that all the rest such as attention, concentration....comes naturally. How do you think one could be aware of something if attention, observation, concentration... is not paid?. Mayka
--- On Wed, 18/5/11, ED <[email protected]> wrote: From: ED <[email protected]> Subject: [Zen] Re: Three Western Myths About Mindfulness To: [email protected] Date: Wednesday, 18 May, 2011, 15:21 Bill and All, Here's an alternative understanding of mindfulness which appears to be more precise: "Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; On purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally." "First of all, mindfulness involves paying attention "on purpose". Mindfulness involves a conscious direction of our awareness. We sometimes (me included) talk about "mindfulness" and "awareness" as if they were interchangeable terms, but that's not a good habit to get into. I may be aware I'm irritable, but that wouldn't mean I was being mindful of my irritability. In order to be mindful I have to be purposefully aware of myself, not just vaguely and habitually aware. Knowing that you are eating is not the same as eating mindfully." http://www.wildmind.org/applied/daily-life/what-is-mindfulness --ED --- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@...> wrote: > > Mayka, > > Our agreement does not surprise me. > > As I've said before I very seldom use the term 'mindfulness', although when > others use it I assume they are talking about the same thing as I call > 'Buddha Mind' or 'direct experience of reality'. > > What I was describing was 'Buddha Mind'. If that's the same as the term > 'mindfulness' is for you, then good! That does not surprise me either. > > ...Bill!
