Mindfulness
All of Patanjali's teaching revolves around harnessing the thought process through regular,
non-attached practice of mindful observation, introspection, concentration, and meditation.
Yoga is the business of bringing order to the information within our energy
fields by moving away from suffering towards love. It is the process of accumulating enough
goodness, enough power, and enough knowledge to change ourselves, and our world.
So let us step onto the path of establishing order throughout the
energy patterns of our physical, astral, and causal bodies so we can tap into
the extrasensory perceptions through which subtle wisdom of quantum reality can
become available to us.
Modern Day Definition of Mindfulness
Mindfulness is "the intentional, accepting, and non-judgemental(vairagya) focus of
one's attention on the emotions,
thoughts and sensations occurring in the present moment.
The 3 Attributes of Mindfulness
Intention
The practice of mindfulness requires a conscious commitment to make changes
at a subconscious level. Intention is demonstrated through practice.
Intention is the commitment to forge a partnership with God to connect
to that energy or objective which you have identified as needing attention
or manifestation. Just as the earth needs to be tilled before planting, intending
requires that you do the necessary leg work in order to create the ideal conditions
for the seed to germinate. Evidence shows that intentions work best when you are at
your optimum, physically, mentally and emotionally. Stress, hate, anger, anxiety,
comparing ourselves to others are obstacles in this path.
Acceptance
The practice of mindfulness can stir emotions that can be very painful or frightening.
The willingness to recognize the fact that suffering and personal
inadequacies are part of the shared human experience- something that we
all go through rather than something that happens to ‘me’ alone - is acceptance.
This idea of shared suffering activates the empathy neurons which makes the conditions
of suffering rather bearable while giving one an intimate insight into the nature of
universal interconnectedness.
It is natural for a person to avoid the discomfort of looking within where our
monstrosity, limitless shortcomings, and numerous failures reside. Our
life is run by our subconscious which controls 95% of our mental operation.
And this is why we cannot make a meaningful change of transforming our
energy patterns by sitting with eyes closed calling it meditation, or
jumping up and down and calling it Yoga. Because while our intentions
are noble, our mind is running around wild and unruly. To make permanent
changes, we need to identify and monitor the thought patterns and intentions
that need to evolve from the realm of lower vibrations to the higher. We need
to change the information stored within our atoms which takes time and practice.
As this happens, we become masters of our mind by attaining a thorough
understanding of how the latent karmic patterns, or the subconscious mind,
is influencing the conscious mind, which in turn influences energy
that creates our reality. This is made possible through activation of our
extrasensory perception. The only reason a person does not progress in
Yoga and its practices of mindfulness, concentration and meditation is
because they do not understand the workings of the conscious and subconscious
mind on the energy patterns that pervade every iota of existence. The entire
Universe is a feedback loop - as you will see in later studies - that is impacted by thought.
The process of introspection involved in analysing the data you collect
regarding yourself and your experiences indicates the level, and degree
of willingness on your part; despite the discomfort that may arise from
delving into the dark areas of your psyche. This is Acceptance.
This outcome of this process as knowledge gets fed back into your reality,
hopefully towards evolution.
Non-judgemental Observation
Means observing all thoughts and feelings that bubble up in our mind without
attachment to desires and aversion of the unpleasant. Whatever experience we
are having, mindful practice remembers to surrender the fruits of all thoughts
and intentions to the higher power. No pride, no shame, nothing personal at
stake - what is there is there and it cannot touch what you are.
As long as there is attachment to sensations, feelings, and things of
this world, there can be no surrender. You simply won't be able to rise above what is being percieved.
We can sit around in groups and make
impressive speeches for each other as much as we like, sing bhajans as loudly
as we want, but the filth that exists within the heart will remain there.
When we go about our day, it will come out through the malicious schemes we
participate in to abuse others, and the mercilessness with which we crush
nature to advance our motives steeped in greed.
Labeling is another attribute of judging. Our need to label underpins
all our interactions and experiences. Mindfulness requires us to
observe without judging or labelling. This is an intervention in the
regular way in which we behave. By labelling the self as internal,
and the outside as external, we constrain our own neurochemical processes
and experience a deluded disconnection. We begin to think that we are a
separate entity from all else throughout the universe. As a result, we abuse,
maim, and destroy without discrimination.