One of the Satipathana’s ( the foundation of mindfulness) four components is mindfulness of the body.
When we sit in meditation we are conscious of there “being a body”. This simple knowledge is useful in settling our minds.
The Buddha instructed that we should sit, stand, walk and laydown with focused mindfulness of what we’re doing. We can add eating, showering and virtually all of our activities to what we strive to be mindful of. Very simple but not so easy.
I experiment with being mindful while showering. The mind wants to go to what’s on the agenda for the day, or perhaps what I should of said or not said a week ago.
We are so programed to be somewhere that’s not where we are. I’m getting better: I am able to shower about ½ of my body while being present. I’m most proficient in remaining mindful while doing the dishes . . . Not bragging – just saying.
Sati (mindfulness) has the additional meaning of “to remember or to recall”.
This remembering is part of another of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.
So, what do we remember?
Two things:
1. the “triple Gem”, the Buddha, The Dharma and the Sangha. By remembering the value of the Buddha (we also can reach enlightenment) the Dharma (the teachings that have been offered to us; also natural law ‘the way things are and the Sangha, like-minded friends on the path.
2. We remember our dedication to Sila, our ethical behavior.
The Buddha instructed his son, Rahula to consider the wholesomeness of our actions before taking action, during the action and to review our actions. We consider: is this action to the benefit of myself, to others and to both ourselves and others.
If the action was wholesome everybody is happy.
If it didn’t turn out so well we tell a trusted friend and vow to avoid making the same mistake in the future.
This formula helps us to adjust our “set-point” to one of blissful blamelessness.
When we sit in meditation we are conscious of there “being a body”. This simple knowledge is useful in settling our minds.
The Buddha instructed that we should sit, stand, walk and laydown with focused mindfulness of what we’re doing. We can add eating, showering and virtually all of our activities to what we strive to be mindful of. Very simple but not so easy.
I experiment with being mindful while showering. The mind wants to go to what’s on the agenda for the day, or perhaps what I should of said or not said a week ago.
We are so programed to be somewhere that’s not where we are. I’m getting better: I am able to shower about ½ of my body while being present. I’m most proficient in remaining mindful while doing the dishes . . . Not bragging – just saying.
Sati (mindfulness) has the additional meaning of “to remember or to recall”.
This remembering is part of another of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.
So, what do we remember?
Two things:
1. the “triple Gem”, the Buddha, The Dharma and the Sangha. By remembering the value of the Buddha (we also can reach enlightenment) the Dharma (the teachings that have been offered to us; also natural law ‘the way things are and the Sangha, like-minded friends on the path.
2. We remember our dedication to Sila, our ethical behavior.
The Buddha instructed his son, Rahula to consider the wholesomeness of our actions before taking action, during the action and to review our actions. We consider: is this action to the benefit of myself, to others and to both ourselves and others.
If the action was wholesome everybody is happy.
If it didn’t turn out so well we tell a trusted friend and vow to avoid making the same mistake in the future.
This formula helps us to adjust our “set-point” to one of blissful blamelessness.
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