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Questions tagged [mindfulness]

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The practice of paying more attention to the present moment, to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you. This can be during formal meditation or during one's everyday life.

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10
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4answers
2k views

Overwhelming thoughts - Mindfulness and awareness

So I have read and know something about awareness and doing regular tasks with attention and focus. But recently there has been chaos with my job and cause for consternation. Thoughts keep arising ...
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4answers
3k views

What is yoniso manasikara and ayoniso manasikara?

As suggested in this answer, it is a good idea to investigate this further. What is wise reflection (yoniso manasikāra) and unwise reflection (ayoniso manasikāra)? Yoniso manasikāra is also ...
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13answers
45k views

Lust - How Can it be Overcome?

I am an above beginner level meditator - I have been practicing Vipassana meditation regularly for past 6-7 months - By regularly, I mean 1hr of sitting meditation at least 5 times a week. I have ...
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6answers
2k views

Overwhelming states of being reached through meditation

I'm wondering what the Buddhist tradition might say about the following state of being. Firstly a bit of background, explaining how I got there and how it felt: I practiced (what I understood to be) ...
11
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6answers
917 views

Software programming/Art and Buddhist Practice - Pursuing creative activity

I have read this question but I'm seeking more advice. So it is quite obvious in the activity of software programming that we cannot help but think about programming concepts and also end up creating ...
11
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7answers
3k views

Can a Buddhist truthfully say, “You insulted / offended / angered / hurt me?”

I feel that in his Ball Of Honey Discourse, the Buddha advised his followers to reflect within whenever they felt offended: and to identify the processes of their mind that caused perceptions or ...
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3answers
499 views

Meditation techniques for beginners?

As a beginning meditator, the techniques I typically use are: Counting breaths, restarting at 10 (learned in Japan). Envisioning, with warm feelings, all of my friends and family around me in a large ...
4
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3answers
287 views

Thought arising

I often hear it being said that with meditation/mindfulness we observe the thoughts and feelings coming and going but I'm not sure if this is a clear explanation of what occurs because in my ...
5
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6answers
271 views

What should I be mindful of in everyday mindfulness?

I am not sure what to focus on when practicing everyday mindfulness. For example, when washing dishes due we focus on what we notice in our current experience; like as I wipe the dishes I can focus on ...
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3answers
157 views

How to be mindful while doing routine activites like walking on a street known for years?

I started observing nature as I walked by the street which I take daily to get out of colony. Problem is that I have already observed it throughly. There isn't anything that I haven't observed. Brain ...
5
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6answers
246 views

Benefits of “Mental Noting” during positive events?

I've been using Mental Noting to improve my handling of anxious thoughts and emotions but I ran into a strange situation today. Most of my thoughts have been neutral or negative, and mentally noting ...
4
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8answers
927 views

Is Mindfulness the same as having an Observer?

If this was bone-obvious to everyone else, then silly me, but I just thought of it because I heard these two words separately long ago and connected them while answering another question... Are "the ...
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4answers
13k views

What are the differences between vipassana and mindfulness meditation?

I have been reading about vipassana and mindfulness meditation but so far I haven’t fully understood the differences. Is mindfulness meditation an aspect or a variation of vipassana meditation?
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4answers
5k views

How to deal with people and handle rude language?

How should one properly handle cases in which people use a rude language and indulge in idle talk or gossip, according to the Buddhist teachings? How to speak or act with a pure thought when people ...
5
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1answer
276 views

Being mindful sitting/working on a computer

I find being mindful while sitting on a computer very hard. Most movements with mouse/keyboard are happening so fast and intuitive that it's very hard to be conscious of what the actual intention (...
11
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3answers
662 views

Application of sixteen contemplations in the anapanasati sutta

I've had a regular morning meditation practice (15 minutes or so, longer when I can) for about 12 months now, and I have a question about the sixteen contemplations as explained in the anapanasati ...
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2answers
4k views

What are Bhavanga and Javana?

Will someone explain Bhavanga and Javana in simple way? At times, they seem non-comprehensible.
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3answers
340 views

What can go wrong in Mindfulness Therapy as used in Clinics?

I just stumbled across the article Mindfulness therapy comes at a high price for some, say experts. Even when mindfulness is practiced correctly, side effects may occur, like feeling lost or ...
6
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3answers
465 views

How should satipatthana be understood in regard to external/internal minds?

"In this way he remains focused internally on the mind in & of itself, or externally on the mind in & of itself, or both internally & externally on the mind in & of itself. (Thanissaro)...
14
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5answers
797 views

What is the meaning of “dhammā” in the context of the four satipaṭṭhāna?

I've been struggling with this one for quite a while now. The fourth foundation of mindfulness is called 'dhammānupassana' - vision in regards to the dhammas. The old translation I was given when I ...
4
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4answers
1k views

Trouble understanding the notion of interconnectedness

I started meditating regularly a few months agowith the aim of practising mindfulness, primarily using Headspace. I also read Sam Harris' Waking Up and listened to the Science of Mindfulness ...
4
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1answer
810 views

Is Mindfulness a poor translation for Sati?

Usually Sati is translated as Mindfulness, but according to the Wikipedia entry, Mindfulness is described as follows: Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one's attention to ...
3
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6answers
637 views

Is Mindfulness the Opposite of Multitasking?

I realized that my use of social media always involves doing something else, and if I am on the internet I might also be on social media. Thus, I am always multitasking seemingly. How does the mind ...
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3answers
226 views

Are there any specific stories or talks where Buddha discussed using mind altering substances other than alcohol?

It goes without saying that alcohol makes you mindless. Theres debate about pot creating conditions for enhanced mindfulness in SOME individuals. My question is not "is it okay". I know what to ...
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5answers
2k views

How to not slip into Nihilism from Vipassana?

I am sensing this disenchantment from letting go. Meditating on impermanence feels like nihilism to me. There is a fleeting moment of joy from the liberation and just watching emotions go by. And I ...
6
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2answers
299 views

Developing mindfulness doing complex activities like learning or programming?

It is easy enough to see the power of developing mindfulness through walking meditation, eating meditation, and any repeated task including cooking. How does one develop mindfulness capacities when ...
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4answers
875 views

mindfulness thinking about future and past?

Is there such thing as mindfulness thinking about the future or past? I have a job that requires a lot of "going" into the future and past (projecting forward and assessing the past). I was wondering ...
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5answers
2k views

What are the Pali translations for mindfulness?

I know that the Pali word for mindfulness is sati as in the Satipatthana Sutta but I've also heard that there is more than one word for mindfulness that is used throughout the Pali Canon. Can anyone ...
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4answers
2k views

What does sati mean?

This normally gets translated as mindfulness. In particular, does it mean remembrance, as in to actively think using words about the past. Or is it about thinking about the present, and not the ...
6
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4answers
433 views

How to improve mindfulness of thinking?

Recently I've been facing problems with trying to remain mindful of any thoughts that pass through my mind. This problem is particularly prevalent in my formal meditation, where I only realise I am ...
4
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3answers
195 views

What am I doing wrong?

I was introduced to meditation many years ago through a short course and a book. Essentially I tried the mindful breathing meditation. I kept at it for a couple of years after which different ...
2
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3answers
192 views

Ānāpānasati (mindfulness of breathing) — concentrate on nose, or on whole body?

I am meditating for the last three months, about 30 mins a day (or a little longer than that). I followed Ajahn Brahm's "Basic Method of Meditation" to bring the mind to be in the present relatively ...
6
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6answers
553 views

Should I consider multitasking while listening to audiobooks? Is it a danger to mindfulness?

One of the several advertised benefits of listening to audiobooks is that it is an ideal activity to accompany those many chores, such as washing the dishes, doing the laundry, running outside etc., ...
6
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12answers
3k views

Unpleasant side effects of meditation

I am 45 years old. I’ve come to realize that I have been more or less unhappy in my life. So I met a clinical psychologist and I do show some childhood codependency issues and we could no CBT and ...
6
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5answers
271 views

Need some pointers about the current phase

I know this is a big letter but it is important. Would really appreciate your help. My spiritual path very much goes along with my career. I knew since my school days that I never wanted to be part ...
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7answers
2k views

Mindfulness during sleep

I have heard that monatics in many cases sleep as little as 4-5 hours per night. In what way do they train, to reduce the amount of sleep needed for nightly restitution? Are there methods of training ...
5
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5answers
2k views

Is Anapanasati a complete path? Does it, by itself, lead to nirvana?

I have been doing meditation of various forms (Goenka body-scanning, anapanasati, just sitting, kaya, citta, and vedana nupassana, etc.) but am trying to figure out something about anapanasati in ...
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4answers
1k views

Is practising mindfulness ever a bad idea?

Are there ever situations where practicing mindfulness is not recommended during Buddhist practice. Could it ever have undesirable side effects or cause hindrances on the path. Or is it always the ...
4
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4answers
729 views

What does a monk think on a day to day basis?

I go through my daily chores and it has become habituated to the extent that i do not need to concentrate on the action and my mind has some time to do thinking or just wander. Now monks life is also ...
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3answers
337 views

Improving Sati-Sampajañña (situative wisdom)

Although one can cultivate sati (recollection/mindfulness) through meditation & good conduct (silā), & one can learn wisdom via book knowledge as well as via direct seeing (for example rising &...
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3answers
1k views

Mindfulness of Watching Youtube

I noticed that upon watching Youtube videos, I seem to become sucked into merely watching stuff online. I almost 'forget' to do other things. Oddly, this doesn't happen while reading online, or ...
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2answers
94 views

When should I stop my brain from going on auto-pilot mode?

Auto-pilot mode is there for a reason. It is to prevent us from re-inventing the wheel. This is solely my understanding. My question is how do I decide when to go on auto pilot mode and when not to? ...
2
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3answers
198 views

Which mindfulness technique should I choose?

Namo Buddhaya. I am a beginner.I want to dedicate rest of my life developing mindfulness.I know there are four ways of attending mindfulness. I understand all the four ways. However I am not sure how ...
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2answers
741 views

What are the main differences between Buddhism and Ellen Langer's 'scientific mindfulness'?

Ellen Langer has an interesting passage in her book on mindfulness claiming that her work is significantly different than 'spiritual buddhism' because it comes from the Western Scientific tradition. ...
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5answers
645 views

Keeping in mind impermanence, suffering and non-self

If one doesn't know the notion of "impermanence, suffering and non-self", can one see it by one's self? I know that I don't need to "force" myself to see impermanence: but do I need to keep in mind "...
7
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3answers
245 views

Mindfulness while Studying or Listening to Dhamma Talks

It's significantly harder to be mindful when the language part of our brain is active. So how does one read theory about Buddhist meditation while actually being mindful of what is being read? How ...
6
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2answers
778 views

Are mindfulness and flow related

Loose definitions for mindfulness and flow (text from Wikipedia): Mindfulness involves being aware moment-to-moment, of one’s subjective conscious experience from a first-person perspective. Flow is ...
6
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3answers
130 views

If a substance enhanced the ability to stay mindful, and didnt cause intoxication or carelessness, would it still violate the fifth precept?

this subject is so controversial i cant get a solid explanation. i am retrying an attempt to find better advice on the subject of continuing unorthodox methods that are controversial if they are truly ...
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7answers
2k views

Is it unethical to teach mindfulness for money?

There are several consulting firms out there that teach mindfulness to corporations as a livelihood. Is it bad karma since they are essentially taking this from the Buddhist teachings, adding their ...
5
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4answers
248 views

Agitation during mindfulness tickling

I was following an older thread, however I would love if someone could respond with an answer as to how I can handle the following situation. This happens almost every time I do mindfulness. As I ...

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