Mindfulness

[Skidmark]

Mindfulness is "the intentional, accepting and non-judgemental focus of one's attention on the emotions, thoughts and sensations occurring in the present moment", which can be trained by meditational practices derived from Buddhist anapanasati.

Mindfulness practice is being employed in psychology to alleviate a variety of mental and physical conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and in the prevention of relapse in depression and drug addiction. It has gained worldwide popularity as a distinctive method to handle emotions.

/wiki




Yay or nay? Any of you here practice it or adopt some of it's elements?

[recursivelyenumerable]

do you know what your dog is ACTUALLY thinking??

[Madrun Badrun]

Is that picture trying to imply life would be better if I thought like a dog?

[Dickie Dee]

I've had this book on my bedside table for like a year now but just can't find the motivation to read it and put it into practice.

I am optimistic about the benefits of it though, even though I'm naturally skeptical about these things

[Madrun Badrun]

Meditation is silly.  Try meth instead.

[Skidmark]

I've had this book on my bedside table for like a year now but just can't find the motivation to read it and put it into practice.

I am optimistic about the benefits of it though, even though I'm naturally skeptical about these things

Nice book! I haven't read any literature, I just understood it as don't rush, don't over think and appreciate the moment and what is around you. It's basically being aware that you don't have to endlessly and anxiously prepare every possible outcome for whatever is down the line. Just breath, eat your food slowly, taste it and just be present.

[Skidmark]

Is that picture trying to imply life would be better if I thought like a dog?

Sometimes I feel that way too.

[kick51]

good way to get walked all over in the usa 

[Dickie Dee]

I've had this book on my bedside table for like a year now but just can't find the motivation to read it and put it into practice.

I am optimistic about the benefits of it though, even though I'm naturally skeptical about these things

Nice book! I haven't read any literature, I just understood it as don't rush, don't over think and appreciate the moment and what is around you. It's basically being aware that you don't have to endlessly and anxiously prepare every possible outcome for whatever is down the line. Just breath, eat your food slowly, taste it and just be present.

One thing I have found effective, that I got from just from browsing the subject, is the characterizing thoughts as useful/not-useful.

Instead of having to convince yourself a negative thought is false to make it go away (that doesn't end well) just push it aside as "not-useful". Simple but seems actually effective at times.

[Joe Molotov]

sounds p. gay tbqh

[Madrun Badrun]

To be fair Joe, its not like he said he stands few times a week with a cock in his mouth for an hour.  That would be r. gay. 

[Joe Molotov]

true

[Himu]

I reject the modern/new age/yoga definition of mindfulness.

"One of the most striking features of mindfulness as taught in the modern world is how far it differs from the Canon’s teachings on right mindfulness. Instead of being a function of memory, it’s depicted primarily—in some cases, purely—as a function of attention to the present moment. Instead of being purposeful, it is without agenda. Instead of making choices, it is choiceless and without preferences." - Thanissaro Bhikku from Right Mindfulness

In a very crass phrasing, mindfulness is more than being in the present moment. In fact, clinging to the present is as pointless as clinging to the past or future. As I type this sentence, I am doing so in the present. But that present is now five second gone. Thus, being "present" is an irrelevant practice because it does not accurately convey true mindfulness. Mindfulness, as taught by the Buddha, is framing ones thoughts as they arrive and weighing them.

I want candy, I think. A non-mindful mind would say that and just buy candy. A mindful mind asks why they want the candy, when was the last time they had candy, why do I need candy, what happened the last time I bought candy, what does candy do to my body when I eat it? Why do I want this video game? I could easily purchase it. When was the last time I bought a video game? How many video games recently have I finished? How many games recently have I ENJOYED? Why do I NEED this video game? I eat my lunch. Rather than eat it with empty thoughts, I notice its texture as I eat it slowly, how does it taste, how does it smell, how does my body react to it? What kind of journey did the food take to reach my mouth? How did the pig that died for me to continue living die? How does this effect other pigs? I think of that pigs suffering and sacrifice as I eat that ham sandwich.

I'm on a street corner and a hot man walks by. Being mindful, I am aware of how that makes me feel. It fills me with desire, and I'm acutely aware that it is desire and nothing else. But being that I don't know him, I let the desire go, and continue on my way.

Mindfulness is doing an act and weighing that act and being mindful of yourself, to others, and where you are. It isn't so much as being present as it is a form of mind training as you OBSERVE your mind rather than passively give into thoughts without thinking over them.

Mindfulness is important, true. But it isn't the main focal point or result of meditation, but one of many. Never mind that there are multiple forms of meditations There's nothing wrong with mindfulness, but the western obsession with it in the context of meditation for instance is becoming exceedingly intellectually dishonest.

[toku]

I reject the modern/new age/yoga definition of mindfulness.

"One of the most striking features of mindfulness as taught in the modern world is how far it differs from the Canon’s teachings on right mindfulness. Instead of being a function of memory, it’s depicted primarily—in some cases, purely—as a function of attention to the present moment. Instead of being purposeful, it is without agenda. Instead of making choices, it is choiceless and without preferences." - Thanissaro Bhikku from Right Mindfulness

In a very crass phrasing, mindfulness is more than being in the present moment. In fact, clinging to the present is as pointless as clinging to the past or future. As I type this sentence, I am doing so in the present. But that present is now five second gone. Thus, being "present" is an irrelevant practice because it does not accurately convey true mindfulness. Mindfulness, as taught by the Buddha, is framing ones thoughts as they arrive and weighing them.

I want candy, I think. A non-mindful mind would say that and just buy candy. A mindful mind asks why they want the candy, when was the last time they had candy, why do I need candy, what happened the last time I bought candy, what does candy do to my body when I eat it? Why do I want this video game? I could easily purchase it. When was the last time I bought a video game? How many video games recently have I finished? How many games recently have I ENJOYED? Why do I NEED this video game? I eat my lunch. Rather than eat it with empty thoughts, I notice its texture as I eat it slowly, how does it taste, how does it smell, how does my body react to it?

I'm on a street corner and a hot man walks by. Being mindful, I am aware of how that makes me feel. It fills me with desire, and I'm acutely aware that it is desire. But being that I don't know him, I let the desire go, and continue on my way.


Mindfulness is doing an act and weighing that act and being mindful of yourself, to others, and where you are. It isn't so much as it is a form of mind training as you OBSERVE your mind rather than give into thoughts without thinking over them.

Mindfulness is important, true. But it isn't the main focal point or result of meditation, but one of many. Never mind that there are multiple forms of meditations There's nothing wrong with mindfulness, but the western obsession with it in the context of meditation for instance is becoming exceedingly intellectually dishonest.

This is the mindfulness I'm familiar with.

[Himu]

I have no large grievances with the mindfulness movement, but I wish they would be more honest and truthful to what they are saying without going into over-simplication. In the pic skidmark posted, it shows like an empty field or something. The point of mindfulness isn't to have a clear head or whatever.

Good short read on this very thing:

http://www.tricycle.com/blog/which-mindfulness

The main issue is that a lot of people think that mindfulness is everything related to spiritualit or even meditation. A problem I do have with it is how people treat meditation as some modern cure all and treat it like it's snake oil. Which can be harmful to many people.

"Without wisdom and compassion, mindfulness is no big deal - even bank robbers or snipers need to be mindful. The power of mindfulness, as used in Buddhist practice, is cultivating it to check our mind and motivation."
-Robina Courtin

[Cerveza mas fina]

You have too much (?) time if you think about this stuff Imho

[Madrun Badrun]

Ya back to the work camps.

[Skidmark]

Queen of Ice, interesting article, I will read it later.
I would say that being in the moment to me is basically like breathing deeply, not being in a hurry (being in the moment instead), not being stressed or anxious. This leads to more sound decision making. You just allow yourself space to just be relaxed in a moment, whether it is to make a purchase or to make a creative peace of work.

[Reb]

I observe 1 minute of silence 4 times a work day, to refocus my energy.

You have too much (?) time if you think about this stuff Imho

I think you lose a lot of time by being unfocused if you don't think about this stuff.