A word that’s widely used, a state of mind that’s practiced, a subject that is taught by many. It is derived from an ancient practice called “Vipassana”taught by Gautama Buddha more than 2500 years ago. In the Buddha’s teachings of the 4 Noble Truth and 8 Fold Path, right mindfulness is one of the 8 Fold Path. In the book “Power of Now” Echart Tolle gave in detail the meaning of living a mindful life. The meaning of “vipassana” is to see things are they really are and to that extent to be able to free oneself from the sufferings a person may face.
There are many aspects of mindfulness that are taught today. One is a very basic which teaches the participant to be aware of every action before proceeding with the action. As an example before you sit down tell yourself that you are going to sit, then sit down. The purpose of this practice is to slow down the thought process to the “now” or the moment. You may ask why is this necessary? You see in every nano second hundreds of thoughts are going on in your mind.
To a large extent very random thoughts that comes and goes. As you are reading this blog your mind is racing with thoughts of agreeing or disagreeing with me or just drifting away to something else. Without the practice of meditation it is impossible to slow down your thought process not to mention controlling it.
The proper practice of vipassana when taught involves preparing the body by going on a vegetarian fast, abstinence and other type of physical preparation depending on the practitioner conducting the programme. In its true form, it’s usually conducted in a buddhist temple where the conditions are conducive and going through a rigid programme that involves waking up in time for a 4.30am chanting before breakfast. Meals are served once a day during lunch at 12 noon and yes it’s a vegetarian meal cooked by the temple kitchen. That’s the only meal for the day. Snacks and drinks are allowed during the day. The rest of the day is spent in various forms of mindfulness exercises like walking meditation and light meditation. Each session usually lasts an hour and the later part of the day is left for the individual to practice insight meditation which is watching your thoughts and not engaging with it. As an example should a thought arise just acknowledge it as “I know” . Should a pain is felt in the body and it will happen if you sit for hours, acknowledge it as “I feel”.
The objective of this mediation is a combination of being still in the mind so as to be able to achieve one pointedness. This reminds me of a verse in the bible “Be still and know that I am God” At the end of the seven or ten days a participant should be able to experience to some degree of what vipassana is. A true practitioner after years of mediation should be able to experience a nano second of no thought i.e. a space between two thoughts. To hold that space it very rare but achievable.
Since we live in society it takes an effort to apply mindfulness unlike the monks who spend their lives in the temple where they practice it 24/7 until it’s second nature to them. The highest level of achievement in this practice is to be in the moment and not knowing it. It’s no longer a conscious effort to practice rather not aware being aware of the effort. We can refer to this state as just “be”.
For a novice it’s an effort but achievable and for a seeker on the path to liberation it’s critical.