What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of what’s happening in the present moment. Whenever you bring awareness to what you’re directly doing or experiencing in your body and mind, you’re being mindful.

Mindfulness meditation comes from early Buddhist meditative traditions that originated over 2,500 years ago. In the words of Walpola Rahula, author of the Buddhist classic What the Buddha Taught, “[Mindfulness] is simply observing, watching, examining. You are not a judge but a scientist”.

Within these traditions, the ethical teachings of mindfulness are the primary practice for understanding suffering and it’s causes, and the path to greater freedom and peace. Through the practice of mindfulness, you can begin to lessen what enslaves the mind and heart – namely greed, hatred, and ignorance, which are considered to be the roots of all suffering, stress, anxiety, and discontentment.

It is also fair to say that mindfulness is found universally in many of the world’s great philosophies, religions, and psychologies. Broadly speaking, mindfulness practice fosters living a life of integrity and supports the ability to gradually steady the mind and heart to help cultivate deeper wisdom and compassion.

A Taste of Mindfulness Meditation