What is Mindfulness?
“Namaste
The Divine in me recognizes and honors, the Divine in you…You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
Mindfulness is a relaxed, calm state of pure awareness. A sense of being AWAKE. It is the action of placing our attention in the present moment. It is the moment before we label or judge.
It is not a religion or a cult. It is not organized or formal. It is something that can be practiced by all faiths and cultures.
Mindfulness helps us to solve problems, to lower our stress and to think more clearly.
It is a practice of pure awareness. We just stop and tune into what is happening in the moment. “Ah, that driver cut me off, hmm, I’m so frustrated!…just noticing.”
What is Meditation?
“Meditation is looking at our own backyard, you could say, looking at what we really have and discovering the richness that already exists.”
“Half of the challenge of meditation is simply getting to your seat.”
– Pema Chodron –
Meditation is using the breath to focus our attention. It is a set of techniques…keep the rest. Meditation can, with practice, allow freedom from the thoughts that agitate our mind. Pema Chodron states that our minds are filled with chatter, chatter, chatter and by learning to meditate we slow down, breathe and observe how our mind works. Meditation is training for the mind that provides focus and concentration, which in turn leads to a flexible mind, free from chatter. This freedom then allows the mind to Respond more and React less.
How do I Cultivate a Practice of Mindfulness and Meditation? • • • Show up! — Schedule a daily sitting/walking time to practice.
