- What is Mindfulness ?

Mindfulness as a concept and practice occupies a significant place in the overall scheme of Buddhist meditative training. It is practised and emphasised in all Buddhist schools or traditions (Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana) and is considered a key aspect of the path to realization and liberation.  

Mindfulness is translated from the Pali word Sati. While it is translated as mindfulness in English, it is translated into Chinese as niàn (念) which is made up of the radical jin (今) which means now and the radical xīn (心) which means heart. In essence, it means the present heart (mind).

It has the connotation of awareness, introspection/reflection, as well as recollection depending on the context it is used.

For example, to place the present heart on what one is doing (to be aware), to place the present heart on what one is thinking (to reflect), and to place the present heart on the teachings of the Buddha (to recollect or remember).

Pali word relating to mind such as citta and mana are commonly translated as heart (xīn 心) in Chinese.

According to Guanaratana, mindfulness (Pali, sati) is an activity and is pre-symbolic whereas word is symbolic; devised out of the symbolic levels of the mind. The actual (mindful) experience lies beyond words and above symbols.

In essence, there is a limitation to translation and there is no equivalent word to the Pali term sati. However, within all Buddhist traditions, regardless of languages, there is a common understanding that sati is an “intrinsic awareness” that is not dependent on the body organ be it brain or heart.

As language affects the way we think and the way we think affects language use; it will affect the way we understand and interpret Buddhism. Hence, mindfulness has been treated and applied differently across all Buddhist schools/traditions throughout Buddhist history.

“Mindfulness” occupies a significant place in the overall scheme of Buddhist doctrines in various Buddhist scriptures and in many context. “Right mindfulness” (Pali, samma-sati ) is one of the Noble Eightfold Paths leading to an extinction of suffering.

The Noble Eightfold Paths is traditionally divided into three interdependent division – ethics (right action, speech and livelihood), concentration/meditation (right mindfulness, effort, meditation), and wisdom (right view and thinking).

In right mindfulness, a prefix “right” (Pali, samma) is added to “mindfulness” (Pali, sati). In the West, under the influence of the Christian Old Testament, “right” is tangled up with “righteous”, which has the connotation of judgement and duality. To reiterate, language and culture affects the way we understand and interpret Buddhism.

In Buddhism, samma has the sense of skilful/wholesome, leading towards genuine happiness and ultimately the awakening/liberation of beings.

Mindfulness is also seen as “recollection’, “remembrance”, and “memory” which recollects and reflects on the Buddha’s teachings to bring about wholesome thoughts and images to restructure the mind positively.

In the Samyutta Nikaya the Buddha described sati thus:

And what, bhikkhus (monks), is the faculty

of mindfulness ? Here, bhikkhus, the noble

disciple is mindful, possessing  supreme

mindfulness and discretion, one who

remembers and recollects what was done

and said long before.”

Right mindfulness is a key aspect on the path of liberation. The eighth century scholar Shantideva, in his  “A Guide to Bodhisattva Way of Life”, chapter five on guarding the mind wrote

Verse 1:

Those who wish to guard their practice

Should very attentively guard their minds

For those who do not guard their minds

Will be unable to guard their practice.

Shantideva maintained that the cultivation of mindfulness is central to leading an awakened life. The “practice” which he is concerned here is of course the bodhisattva’s training, however it could be applied in daily life – healthy eating.

Without mindfulness, he upheld it is impossible to achieve or maintain our “practice”. This is because it is possible to remain utterly inattentive to one’s own lifestyle by failing to notice situations that call for skilful response (sense restraint).

( "A Guide to Bodhisattva Way of Life" is a very important text still studies by Mahayana and Vajrayana Tradition)

Traditionally, mindfulness is a practice of introspective withdrawal; in the West, Buddhism means energetic engagement. Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, coined the term “engage Buddhism”; he thinks that the way to achieve enlightened freedom from the confines of the physical realm comes directly from how consciously we engage with it.

In his book: “Peace is Every Step” , he states that mindfulness must be engaged.

Once there is seeing, there must be acting.

Otherwise, what is the use of seeing ?  We

must be aware of the  real problems of the

world.  Then,  with  mindfulness,  we  will

know what to do and what not to do to be

of help.               

Mindfulness is an intentional practice of noticing the details of the present moment to moment, with a non-judgemental attitude, being aware about our body, mind and the environment.

As mindfulness gins more attention due to its usefulness, academics and practitioners alike have attempted to provide definitions of mindfulness.

The interpretation of mindfulness can be subjective and plentiful. It is hence of importance to address and clarify common misconception.

1. Mindfulness can only be achieved through sitting meditation.
While sitting meditation can bring about mindfulness, there are many other forms of mindfulness exercises like mindful walking / movement, mindful breadth, mindful body, etc.

2. Practicing Mindfulness is about achieving relaxation.
Being mindful does not necessarily result in relaxation. In most cases, relaxation occurs as a by-product of mindfulness.

3. Mindfulness helps to stop or take away certain thoughts from our mind.
Contrary to this belief, mindfulness is about noticing the thoughts in our body and being non-judgemental and non-reactive towards the thought. It involves noticing with interest and awareness, allowing the thought to form and go away freely, helping us to achieve more clarity through the intentional awareness.

Moving from a personal use of mindfulness to application in a therapeutic manner, its value can be translated into real-life application from enhancement of quality of life to alleviation of pain both physical and emotional. Fundamentally, adopting an approach of quality of mindfulness to daily living helps one recognizes the intricate beauty of life and fully appreciating the ups and downs.

When faced with chronic and persistent challenges, mindfulness can help one adopt a by-stander approach towards one’s repetitive and negative way of thinking.

The concept of mindfulness is not easily grasped and can be clear yet elusive. However, bearing in mind the mindfulness journey is unique and personal to each individual, it can be both fulfilling and rewarding. While words can help shade some light on mindfulness, it is often an individual experiment of discovery that would enlighten one’s understanding.