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What does it mean to be mindful?

stonerfromohio

stonerfromohio

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Basically I want to know what this means to you in detail, if you are mindful of eating your food, what does that mean? Is it that you know that you are eating your food, your watching individual sensations, you feel a presence watching everything happening, you label thoughts/emotions as they came up, etc. how would you describe mindfulness?



How does mindfulness improve your daily life, does mindfulness lead to spiritual states? Is mindfulness ordinary or something extraordinary (sorry I couldnt think of a good word to use). Does mindfulness reduce stress, or help alleviate depression?


Eastern traditions talk about reality being impersonal during mindfulness do you feel that you are the one watching? Or is there just mindfulness? Is there a certain feeling or state that arises when you are truly mindful? Is there really such a thing as being fully present, or are we always naturally present?

Lots of questions but im interested.
 
First off, you seem a bit paranoid because you feel like people are watching your every step and take it into account of who you really are in the inside. Only you know who you are because you are self conscious of your actions and patterns. I don't feel that way ever because I know that I am in control of my own actions. Whenever I feel like I'm not in control, I always assure myself that everything is all right and that I shouldn't worry over some things that make no difference in my life. I am a firm believer that even though I can't change the things I am presented with, I still allow myself to become confident and self righteous in my beliefs. Hope that helps a little.
 
Mindfulness is just a word, like any other, there's nothing special about it.
I guess my point is that, while reading the OP, it comes off as you just repeating a word over and over.
You know how if you say a word many times in a row it loses it's meaning and it's just a sound you make with your mouth? Rum rum rum rum rum rum rum rum....wtf is rum again?

Don't get me wrong, this is a great topic to talk about, but mindfulness, in particular, is a state that people hold in high regard, deservedly yet misguidedly, if you know what I mean. Just like people hold enlightenment in high regard, yet that attitude towards it is fundamentally opposed to it because it all lies in the realm of dualistic thinking AKA. "I do A to achieve B" rather than "A is B and I'm simply moving just to move"

It seems to me that you've already come to an understanding of what the term means on an intellectual level. The questions you ask are good ones, but I don't think any one answer to them will lead to a further realization or internalization of mindfulness itself.

Anyway enough of that, in an attempt to answer your question: Mindfulness to me is being in the moment, but consciously keeping yourself in the moment. Meditation, where you are doing nothing but counting breaths, is the easiest example, but while doing an activity that has more consequences than simply "going samadhi" it means being fully aware of all the actions that you mind is controlling your body to take while being persistent to not think about the past or future. It's very much like a razor's edge because if you don't think enough, you fall into unconscious patterns of thinking and living, but if you over-think it, then you are mired in either the past or the future all the while being blind to the present. Meditation is fundamentally different from sleep (on a dualistic level ;)) in that you are present and fully awake, yet stopping your stream of conscious and allowing your basic, living, awareness take over. It is during this state where all moments become one, and all concepts and labels become meaningless, and it's because of that fact that I started out my post saying it's nothing special, yet it is so very special indeed..
 
fieryslash said:
First off, you seem a bit paranoid because you feel like people are watching your every step and take it into account of who you really are in the inside. Only you know who you are because you are self conscious of your actions and patterns. I don't feel that way ever because I know that I am in control of my own actions. Whenever I feel like I'm not in control, I always assure myself that everything is all right and that I shouldn't worry over some things that make no difference in my life. I am a firm believer that even though I can't change the things I am presented with, I still allow myself to become confident and self righteous in my beliefs. Hope that helps a little.
Click to expand...

Im not sure where you get this paranoia thing from? I dont feel like people are watching me every step? I dont see how this has anything to do with my opening questions?
 
CoffeeDrinker said:
Mindfulness is just a word, like any other, there's nothing special about it.
I guess my point is that, while reading the OP, it comes off as you just repeating a word over and over.
You know how if you say a word many times in a row it loses it's meaning and it's just a sound you make with your mouth? Rum rum rum rum rum rum rum rum....wtf is rum again?

Don't get me wrong, this is a great topic to talk about, but mindfulness, in particular, is a state that people hold in high regard, deservedly yet misguidedly, if you know what I mean. Just like people hold enlightenment in high regard, yet that attitude towards it is fundamentally opposed to it because it all lies in the realm of dualistic thinking AKA. "I do A to achieve B" rather than "A is B and I'm simply moving just to move"

It seems to me that you've already come to an understanding of what the term means on an intellectual level. The questions you ask are good ones, but I don't think any one answer to them will lead to a further realization or internalization of mindfulness itself.

Anyway enough of that, in an attempt to answer your question: Mindfulness to me is being in the moment, but consciously keeping yourself in the moment. Meditation, where you are doing nothing but counting breaths, is the easiest example, but while doing an activity that has more consequences than simply "going samadhi" it means being fully aware of all the actions that you mind is controlling your body to take while being persistent to not think about the past or future. It's very much like a razor's edge because if you don't think enough, you fall into unconscious patterns of thinking and living, but if you over-think it, then you are mired in either the past or the future all the while being blind to the present. Meditation is fundamentally different from sleep (on a dualistic level ;)) in that you are present and fully awake, yet stopping your stream of conscious and allowing your basic, living, awareness take over. It is during this state where all moments become one, and all concepts and labels become meaningless, and it's because of that fact that I started out my post saying it's nothing special, yet it is so very special indeed..
Click to expand...

The reason i repeat mindfulness a few times in my post is because my question was regarding mindfulness? i wasnt specifically trying to find your answers to answer my question it was just a curiosity of what it means to be mindful for different people. I really wasnt trying to over conceptualize or anything just discussion, ive already read a shit ton, and practiced my fair share of mindfulness retreats, I just thought it would be an interesting topic to see peopels expereineces.
 
Awareness of mind. It's pretty much what zen practice seeks to lead to. It's a really hard thing to explain, kind of like trying to explain trips to someone who's never had one.
 
If you like free then I would go with S.N. Goenka he has retreat centers all over the world, with absolutely no cost, its an 11 day silent retreat with lodging, and food completely covered. You wake up at 4, have all vegeterian meals, and utter silence all day long just watching the rise and fall of your breath. I have done 2 of these and they are painful as well as blissful.

I am also a certified yoga instructor I got certified by a guy named Lex Gillian he is in his late 60's now but he opened one of the first yoga studios in the country and studied with a lot of contemporary teachers Ram Dass, Stephen levine etc. he was a really awesome guy and certified me for basically free. Then he gave me free tickets to go to New Mexico for his advanced yoga teacher training 9000 ft up in the mountains miles away from paved road. Both teacher trainings were amazing, they have been my favorite retreats, beautiful mountains/wild horses yoga all day, drinking from the streams without any need for purification.

So ya I would recommend Lex's retreats for yoga, and goenka for buddhist meditation. I also went and saw a teacher named Gangaji she teaches Advaita Vedanta that retreat was beautiful as well.

I lean towards yoga/advaita vedanta with the occasional buddhism thrown in there. I could go on and on but I wont unless you have any questions :)

btw i love coffee... coffee flavored ice cream is the shiiiiiiiiiit
 
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I would say mindfullness is being self-aware in the present moment. Not constantly looking to the past or anticipating then future; only being in the present. Though I think its the self-awareness that is the most important. If you are eating a meal, instead of acting automatically and chewing and swallowing, get behind that physical act and control the mental/mechanical part which instigates the chewing and swallowing. Same with breathing; as a vital function, we are almost always unaware of if, and we can safely be that way; but unlike other vital functions, we actually can control it (to an extent). Focusing attention on an unconcious act acts as a mental symbol for all unconcious acts. Control of breath really amounts to control of part of the unconcious mind.
 
I've found that if you have an e.e. cummings book of complete poems at the ready, reading him makes a lot more sense... reading both of them actually.

I have nothing but respect for both men. Anyway sorry for the digression.
 
Mindfulness is a broad term. I find it means different things to me in different contexts - for example I can be mindful of what I'm experiencing; mindful of my actions; mindful of my words, thoughts, and so on.

I guess it's a bit of an umbrella term for having wisdom.
 
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