2.1. What is Mindfulness?
What exactly mindfulness? It’s primarily about AWARENESS of your EXPERIENCE:
bodily sensations and what you feel in your body;
the five senses;
feelings & emotions; and
thoughts.
Mindfulness is about being aware of what’s presented to you in the PRESENT MOMENT. By being aware of your experience in the moment, you can automatically accept your experience (acceptance is not resignation - we can positively influence our situation) in the moment, so we can act and respond mindfully, skillfully, wisely, and kindly.
Specifically, Darren Cockburn’s definition of MINDFULNESS is as follows:
MINDFULNESS is AWARENESS and ACCEPTANCE of bodily sensations entering in through the senses, feelings, and thoughts, in the PRESENT MOMENT.
AWARENESS can be broad or specific. Mindfulness gives a CHOICE as to where we direct our awareness and attention. We can choose how we experience life.
So, MINDFULNESS is primarily about AWARENESS, where AWARENESS enables ACCEPTANCE.
2.2. The Opposite of Mindfulness - LOST IN THOUGHT
The opposite of mindfulness is being lost in thought. When the monkey mind acts in ways that cause stress, this is usually when we are lost in thought. When we are lost in thought, we resist what is going on at any given point in time. The mind drifts into the past or the future, it worries, and it craves. It creates stories, fantasies, and can catastrophize. It’s often based on delusion, and we end up not being mindful. Nothing is skillful. It’s like we are daydreaming, a dialogue, or distraction to escape from what’s going on. When we are lost in thought, when the mind drifts off in an uncontrolled way, you lose the ability to enjoy the moment.
The goal of mindfulness is to be lost in thought less of the time and mindful more of the time.
We can only enjoy our experience through being mindful. And you can only be your true self, at your best and at peace when you’re mindful.
Remember though, if we consciously decide to let the mind wander, and get lost in thought, that’s okay if it’s done through conscious choice.
Also remember, we’re never expected to be able to perfect mindfulness - it’s a regular practice.
2.3. Acceptance and Kindness
Mindfulness is not just awareness, but a NON-JUDGMENTAL AWARENESS. Whenever something happens, whether it’s pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant - we accept it. We don’t resist it. Don’t buy into any stories you try telling yourself. You can’t go back in time and change things, so it’s not helpful to resist your current experience.
BE AT PEACE with things as they are right now. If we try to change things, it won’t change when you’re in a state of resistance or when you’re judging something.
KINDLY ACCEPTANCE is required for POSITIVE CHANGE to take place.
Mindfulness allows KINDNESS and LOVE TO FLOW.
Kindness comes from a place of GENEROSITY, FRIENDLINESS, or doing things that bring about PEACE and HARMONY.
Mindfulness and kindness go together, they are integrated,
2.4. Practical Exercise: Introductory Mindfulness Practice
Cockburn leads students through several exercises which help to cement the ideas presented in the introductory lectures.
2.5. Practical Exercise: What are your objectives? WHAT ARE YOUR OBJECTIVES for studying mindfulness? How do you want your mindfulness practice to manifest in terms of outcomes? Write down up to five to six specific, core objectives about why you want to study mindfulness to help you stay focused as you move through the course.
On February 13, 2020, I was experiencing a massive depression that was leading me towards a terribly low point in my life. That afternoon, I had gone into downtown Vancouver to pick up some baked goods from a dog bakery as my mom’s dogs were having their birthday the next day. Next to the bakery, was the doorstep of a psychic medium. Reluctantly, I went in and inquired about how much a reading would cost, and what it would include. I decided to purchase a full life reading from her, which included a palm and tarot card reading. I was amazed at how specific the revelations were, and overall, my life wasn’t as off track as my monkey mind had been leading me to believe. Near the end of the session, the reader then gave me homework to do, which included cultivating a daily meditation practice. That night, at about fifteen minutes to midnight, I lit a candle and sat in meditation alone, for the first time. I watched the flame flicker in the darkness of my room and did my best to just be in the moment, alone, with my thoughts. Overall, it helped, and I kept doing it for a few weeks, but it’s not been a practice I’ve been consistent with maintaining since then.
My interest in studying mindfulness is rooted in the following objectives:
to become more consistent with incorporating mindfulness into my day to day life;
More calmer
Instill a daily personal meditation practice in your life
Relationships need cultivating