The What and Purpose of Mindfulness

The What and Purpose of Mindfulness

MINDFULNESS is our ability to enhance our awareness of what is going on both inside our body, mind, and around us externally. A constant awareness of our body, emotions, and thoughts will enable us avoid harming ourselves and others, by which we can enhance both ours and others well being. Living mindfully with heightened awareness in everyday life, enhances love, compassion and caring for us, for our fellow beings and nature. By doing so we can transform the world into a better place where everyone and everything can live harmoniously.

MINDFULNESS PRACTICES enhances one's life. A regular practice will transform human beings from "doing" mode to "being" mode. Mindfulness does not involve any religion, or any dogma. It is pure science. Mindfulness which is a western world coined word is called as Meditation in the eastern world.

It is: 

• Simple yet profound!
• Easy yet highly effective!
• Basic yet very strong!

TO BE MINDFUL EVERY MOMENT is not easy and can be done only by regularity and persistence. It is said Rome city is not built in a day. Similarly, mindfulness practices require rigorous practice. This does not mean that they are heavy body building exercises. In fact mindfulness practices involve only 10 to 20% about body and the rest is all about MIND.

MINDFULNESS PRACTICES mainly involve breathing and awareness. Other mindfulness practices relating to the daily activities can be incorporated once an anchoring into breath can be achieved to some degree. All living beings have to breathe. Human beings can regulate their breath and mindfulness practices involve conscious breathing, and becoming aware of these states of conscious breathing. Sometimes there would be states where the breath slows down and may even stop for a while, all naturally without any intervention of the practitioner. In these states the awareness of the practitioner gets heightened, the whole body and mind relaxes, and the practitioner enters into a highly profound peaceful state. In some of these states, the brain releases serotonin that heals the human body and enhances the immunity power of the practitioner.

MINDFULNESS PRACTICES PROVIDE CLARITY ON 4 LEVELS
Mindfulness practices involves on four levels that of body, mind, emotions, and thoughts. 

As one practices mindfulness practices over a period a time - as minimum as 6 weeks - one can achieve better clarity about one's body - what and when to eat, how to eat, how much to eat, how much to exercise, etc. 

A practice of 8 to 10 weeks will reveal the psychological challenges one have and will be able to find a methodology in overcoming those challenges so that the practitioner can be better equipped. 

Over a period of practice of about 16 weeks to 26 weeks one can become more aware of one's emotions and can choose wisely and consciously with which emotions they can hold onto and which emotions they can let go.

A practice of 52 weeks and longer... one can understand upon regular introspection what thoughts are, and what and how much significant they are. A better wisdom and deeper introspection and interiorization will enable the practitioner to understand the reality of thoughts and their transient nature. With a better and wise understanding the practitioner can choose a conscious entanglement towards the thoughts that enter the mind.

NURTURE AND PROTECT YOUR MINDFULNESS PRACTICES

Having said the above, the results will come only to those who have a regularity in practice of their mindfulness practices. One has to nurture one's mind with the right inputs, protect it from all invasions, build resilience and keep practicing even in midst of myriad ups and downs. Remember it is not a destiny, but a journey and most of the times, it is "work in progress." This is where a constant periodical coaching helps and supports one's mindfulness journey.

Responsibility and Accountability

Responsibility and Accountability

When I looked at my life as a retrospective, my whole life's wisdom boiled down into two words - responsibility and accountability.

If I can take responsibility for being accountable of whatever I do, then life becomes very simple. I choose my choices wisely as I would be held responsible and also I am accountable for whatever I do.

If we can teach these two words and the deepest meaning of these two words to all the people in the world, then the world will turn into a very peaceful world.

The moment I take accountability or someone says "you are accountable for whatever you do," immediately I will start behaving more responsibly.

Example 1

Let us look into an example where we have an unlimited broadband connection. The moment it is an unlimited internet connection, we binge browse and download all unnecessary information. Whether we want it or not for that moment, we just download it. And, we would like to justify our downloads with a so called futuristic approach, that we may need it for our future requirement which could be about 10 years later and by which the technology also changes and the information that is downloaded may become irrelevant sometimes. The moment we say it is unlimited, we tend to watch continuously movies in all those wooing movie channels irrespective of whether we really like the movie or not (binge watching) and whether the movie is going to add some value or not to our life. But, let us say the broadband companies put a caveat stating that if you watch a movie, then you have to pay $1 extra for each movie that you watch, then we immediately get into a choice and choose wisely what to watch and what not to watch.

Example 2

If someone tells me, I am accountable for whatever I talk and whatever words I use, because my words are going to influence the person listening to - first psychologically and then physiologically (as the brain releases different hormones that influence the body), then I would definitely be more responsible in choosing my words and the intonation with which I deliver those words.

The people in the world face more abuses in terms of words that are uttered by people around them, than the the physical abuses or atrocities. So, can we choose our words more wisely and convey them with more love irrespective of whether the other person listens to us or not.

I have seen people (both men and women) abusing each other more with words rather than physically hurting each other and hampering their relationships. Sometimes by not saying the right word at the right time also many relationships just collapse.

Example 3

If someone tells the story writer of a movie that he or she is accountable for whatever the effect it is going to cause on the people who will watch the movie, and he/she will be held responsible for it, then perhaps the story writer writes in a more responsible way.

Example 4

If we hold all the industrialists accountable for whatever the pollution that is being created and they are responsible for it, then they would obviously be manufacturing only those goods that will not cause pollution.

Example 5

If we tell parents that are going to be responsible for their child's birth and the way the born child is going to behave in the society and whatever good or bad the child does, they would be held accountable for it, because t nohey have given birth to such a child, then the mother and father will think 1000 times before conceiving so that they give birth only to a noble child or a child of high character.

In this way if we make people accountable for whatever they do or going to do, then their choices becomes more wiser and they automatically behave more responsibly. There is no need to teach about any religion or any religious practices. Just these two words and it will change drastically their approach towards life.

How to Improve My Knowing?

How to Improve My Knowing?

Sri Sri Parmahansa Yogananda ji says 

"Self-realization is the knowing—in body, mind, and soul—that we are one with the omnipresence of God; that we do not have to pray that it come to us, that we are not merely near it at all times, but that God's omnipresence is our omnipresence; that we are just as much a part of Him now as we ever will be. All we have to do is improve our knowing."

How to improve our knowing? OR How to improve my knowing?

If I can question myself, how I can improve my Knowing before carrying out every activity, then how it would be?

When I wake up in the morning and before even getting up from bed, if I question myself how I can improve my Knowing today? Then, there is a surrender that happens and a humble prayer, stating - "help me in improving my Knowing."

I get down from the bed and enter the washroom and if I question myself how I can improve my Knowing now? Then a moment of stillness enters and the activities of cleaning happens in a gentle awareness. 

While taking the shower, if I question myself how I can improve my Knowing now? There is a surrender into the stream of water flowing from the shower and the flow is merged with the Cosmic Flow and there is an awe in that flow of the Cosmic Flow.

As I place the used clothes in the bin for washing, if I question myself how I can improve my Knowing now? Instead of just having an attitude of getting rid of used clothes, I can express my gratitude to those clothes who have served me for those many hours protecting me from external environment of heat, cold, dust and may be from harmful microbes. I can tell them - "get washed and cleaned, and I would be glad to wear you again."

As I dry myself and dress up and question myself how I can improve my Knowing now? There is a gratitude that enters the mind for those who have made these clothes for me to wear and that gratitude is wrapping me in its freshness and healthy warmth.

As I enter my prayer place and just before sitting there if I question myself how I can improve my Knowing now? Then, there is stillness that enters, and the search for stillness is no more there, and there is only merging into stillness that happens.

As I come out of my meditative or mindfulness practices and start entering into the daily activities of world, and if I question myself how I can improve my Knowing today in these daily activities? Then, there is a surrender to the Cosmic Will and a humble prayer stating - "help me in improving my Knowing. Whatever I do, whatever activity I carry out, let me not lose sight of Thee - help me in improving my Knowing." Then the planning happens and whether the chores get completed or not as there is surrender, the attachment and the entanglement towards the outcome is no more there. There is only a sincere attempt of carrying out the task to the best of my ability. A sense of equanimity gets in and balances me.

As I about to light the stove to cook something and if I ask how I can improve my Knowing? Then there is a silence and from that silence a flow of serving comes in and the act of cooking with lots of love and a thought process of enriching the food with lots of physical and psychological nourishment automatically happens.

Sitting before the plate just before eating, if I ask how I can improve my Knowing while eating? Then, I will convey my gratitude to all those people who made the food to bring it into my plate right from the farmer to the cook and the individual who has served it. I can also see the beauty of nature and its grace in each and every grain and how much each and every particle has toiled to bring these grains onto my plate. Especially trillions of micro-organisms that has converted the dirt into nourishing soil and supplied nutrients to the plants in making the plants to grow and flourish bountifully.

As I board the vehicle to travel and ask myself what I can do to improve my Knowing during this travel? Then I would travel mindfully and use the appropriate transport that is most environment friendly and travel only if it is dire necessary.

When I go for shopping and if I ask how I can improve my Knowing during shopping? Then I would buy only if it is really necessary and look out for high quality clothes rather than the quantity, so that I buy ethically as much close to natural fiber so that my shopping do not create burden on to the environment, the weaver, and the seller.

As I retire to bed and ask myself, what did I do today to improve my Knowing? Then, I can honestly introspect on my self and my behavior compassionately, and thank the grace where ever I could behave and helped myself in improving my Knowing and where I could not, I can ask for more grace so that I can further improve my Knowing.

On any occasion like a birthday or some another important event, if I can ask myself what I did to improve my knowing? Then, I can reflect back and as a retrospective, I can express my gratitude to all that has passed and has brought me to this present state and chalk out a pathway for a better future that enhances my awareness and further improve my Knowing.

Every time when I ask "what I can do to improve my Knowing?" Then, my mind takes a back step for a while. There is so much of de-cluttering that happens, an amazing amount of clarity surfaces, and I enter into a realm of stillness and from that state, a Flow guides me to perform the right activity that enhances mine and others well-being and further improves my Knowing.

Improving the Knowing

Improving the Knowing

As I improve my Knowing,

Stillness comes along with me,

In everything that I carry out.

As I improve my Knowing,

my mind can escape 

into the landscape around,

experiencing my vastness.

As I improve my Knowing,

I silently listen to the,

chirping of birds, and the cuckoos of Cuckoo,

the buzz of bees,

and enter the sound of OM.

As I improve my Knowing,

My mind dwindles into the silence around,

embraces it and gets lost into the Nothingness.

As I improve my Knowing,

I ask the right question,

and get the right answer,

that there is none and only One.

As I improve my Knowing,

the me, mine and the I 

melts into the Unknown and the Infinite,

Becoming one with the One.

My Zazen

My Zazen

Sit,

breathe.

Be still,

Observe breath.

Be still,

Observe sitting.

Breathe,

Observe breath.

Be still,

Observe stillness.

Be still,

Observe the observer.

Be still,

There is no observer.

Only the observing.

Only the stillness.

What is Zazen?

First we understand the word "zen." The word "zen" comes from a Sanskrit word "dhyana ध्यान" which means quiet contemplation. Zazen means sitting quietly in stillness by anchoring the mind on the breath and carrying out the quiet contemplation.

The Paradox of coexistence of Light and Darkness

The Paradox of coexistence of Light and Darkness

What does exist - is it light or darkness? Which one of them exist?

For the above questions, there is only one answer. And, the answer is - what we are able to see, we believe only that exists. The one that we don't see, we believe it does not exist. Just because we do not see something, that does not mean it does not exist. It exists, but we are unable to see or perceive. If we can understand this paradox of seeing and non-seeing then, we can dive deep into our true Self and question - what is that, that is existing which is not being seen or perceived?

The analogy that is being used here is that of light and darkness. When light is reflected on an object, the darkness disappears and we would be able to see that object. And, when that light is removed, the darkness reappears. The light and darkness have not gone anywhere. They are there itself. When we are seeing one, we are unable to see the other. When we are seeing darkness, we are unable to see the light and when we are seeing the light, we are unable to see the darkness that is very much present there itself. Hence, considering this analogy in this whole Cosmos we can come to an understanding that light and darkness coexist. Considering the darkness as the unmanifest or avyakta अव्यक्त and the light as manifest or vyakta व्यक्त - they coexist. There is no separation between them. This is the Truth that Upanishads emphasize in a statement called "sarvam khalvidam Brahma" सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्म - "everything is indeed Brahman or Absolute."

Hence, there is no self or Self. The self is the Self. We just have to become aware of it.