Mindfulness by living in the now

Training in mindfulness and mindfulness-based practices, oftentimes as part of a quiet meditation session, results in looking at experiences as if for the first time. Self-regulation of attention on the present by bringing one’s complete non-judgmental focus to the present experience on a moment-by-moment basis where each thought, feeling, or sensation that arises in the attentional field is acknowledged and accepted as it is. With practice, it will help one maintain an open and curious attitude and thinking in alternative categories. There is nothing inherently religious about mindfulness. By simply living in the now, we often gain a fresh perspective on how our habits, learning, and past experiences drive our present responses, and provides a more vibrant and holistic perception of reality.

From John Whalen-Bridge's The Emergence of Buddhist American Literature, "to a Buddhist, the mind is similar to a wild and drunken monkey, moving from one place to another with seemingly no purpose or direction; the thoughts that flow are transitory, chaotic, unregulated, and inevitably colored by desire. Since the meditator is detached by simply observing in a non-judgmental way to each thought, mindfulness welcomes the emergence of a succession of thoughts. Detachment from your thoughts frees you from the fate of a drunken monkey, and moves you one step closer to enlightenment.

There is nothing wrong with appropriately pursuing your desires either, and in fact being mindful of them often makes them even more enjoyable. Where one often needs mindfulness, is when the satiation of the desire becomes habitual and uncontrolled.

Another concept is that the untrained mind, being just another part of our body, is like an arm we have no control over. Do we let is stay connected to our body and just flail about, hitting and touching whatever it may, or do we have control over it? Can we place the arm's hand in our lap and sit quietly?

Using an extreme example, there is a story of buddha sitting in the woods during an extremely hot day. He was being bitten by bugs and scorched by the sun, and in doing so, was seeking to disconnect his mind from his body and perceive even the most annoying sensations into his body without judgement. Imagine sitting outside, being bitten by a horse fly, and choosing not to even focus one's thoughts to it? He finally realized that self-mortification was wrong. Peace and comfort of the body were directly related to the peace and comfort of the mind. Abusing the body is to abuse the mind, since together they form one reality which can not be separated.

Are we simply a product of our environment?

Through meditation, we can learn to connect with and experience the essential nature of the mind itself. We learn through the meditative experience that our mind and soul exist, and are not exclusively defined by our thoughts, our physical manifestation, and our past. We are born with a nature that exists independent of our collection of experiences and training. It allows us to disconnect from who we are, the part of us shaped by the product of our environment, and live with a fresh and less judgmental perspective.

A personal breakthrough in using mindfulness came when I was preparing for and delivering a very difficult message to someone who reported to me at work. A common human reaction would have been to play-down or hide from myself the feelings of anxiety and nervousness, and react defensively when the subject arrived. I altered my habits by being as aware as I possibly could about the issue, and tried to feel as strongly as I could the uneasiness I had with out judging them, or the employee, and then walked in to the meeting. I quietly carried my worry and anxiety on my sleeve. When the topic arose, I was the most equipped to handle it as I have ever been, since I was not trying to ignore, be defensive, or dismiss an "elephant in the room". The meeting still did not go well, but I had my wits about me, did my personal best, I had no regrets, and lived in the present moment. It seems when we try to deny ourselves of things that they become even stronger.