Demystifying Mindfulness
Abstract
Mindfulness is the optimal state of our mind in which our awareness and attention is fully devoted to what we are doing and what we are in.
When we are in a state of Mindfulness, we don’t feel time, hunger, fatigue, or any heaviness. What we are doing or what we are devoted to is done very efficiently.
Problem
Mindfulness is a child’s natural state, especially when playing. Try interrupting the child’s play and notice the reaction.
Over time, as we grow up, we depart from the optimal state. Our consciousness is overloaded by external sources of information and internal thoughts that disturb our mind.
Such a mind is restless, constantly jumping from one to another thing and cannot be fully devoted to what we are in. That’s why it’s also called the Monkey mind.
Solution
The opposite of mindfulness is multitasking. The solution is to discipline yourself to be devoted to one thing at a time.
It will eventually discipline your mind to be completely still. This is achieved gradually, repeating a series of simple rituals over time.
STORY ABOUT MENTAL DISCIPLINE
Students were living together with their master and they noticed that they are doing exactly the same like the master is doing. So they were asking the master:
“Master when you are eating, we are eating. When you are working, we are also working. When you are sleeping, we are sleeping. How come you are the master and we are the students when we are giving exactly the same like you are giving?”
And the master told them:
„When you are eating, you are actually talking with your mind all the time. When you are walking, you actually want to sit. When you are sitting, you already want to walk away. And when you are sleeping you are also very very busy.
When I eat, I eat. When I walk, I walk. When I work, I work. When I sleep, I sleep.
Therefore i am the master and you are the students.“
Tips and Hints
Experience your meal
- Ensure to eat in a quiet environment
- If you have a company, don’t talk
- Do not think, just experience the meal
- If a thought occurs, stop eating, wait for the thought to disappear, then continue eating
- Truly taste what you are eating
10 min meditation
- Ensure 10 min every day for being inactive
- Find a quiet spot for meditation
- Meditate, do not think, just experience the moment
- If a thought occurs, focus on breathing, the thought will disappear
- Never skip this ceremony, no matter what circumstances occur
Digich Success List
- Create cards in your Success List for the lunch and the meditation
- Mark “done” when completed and put some notes if necessary
- Once a month check your progress, improve if necessary
