The quality of mind we are talking about……. is a mind which responds to something with attention and then returns to its own natural state. It doesn’t elaborate on it, doesn’t get caught up in it, doesn’t get excited about it. It just notes that this is what is happening. Every time it happens, it notes it. It doesn’t get blasé. It doesn’t become conditioned. In this way, it is like a child’s mind.
Tenzin Palmo, Reflections on a mountain lake
God is not all in one place complete,
God is in the bits and pieces of everyday,
a kiss here, a smile there,
and sometimes tears.
Patrick Kavanagh
photo Grafton st Dublin by executioner
Feelings arise within the state of calm. The mind is experiencing feelings and calm at the same time, without being disturbed. When there is calm like this, there are no harmful consequences. Problems occur when the chicken gets out of the coop. For instance you may be watching the breath entering and leaving and then forget yourself, allowing the mind to wander away from the breath, back home, off to the shops or any number of different places. Perhaps even a half hour may pass before you suddenly realize that you’re supposes to be practicing meditation and you reprimand yourself for your lack of mindfulness. This is where you have to be really careful because this is where the chicken gets out of the coop – the mind leaves its base of calm.
Ajahn Chah, What’s What
photo erik christensen
We are paying full attention when there is nothing between us and the task at hand. If you are facing a sink full of dirty dishes and the mind is taken up with aversion to the task, impatience with how long it is taking, thinking about what movie you’re going to see that night, you are separated from what you are doing. The hands are washing but the mind is not. To be divided this way is to be less than fully alive. Giving our whole body and mind over to a task being undivided and intimate in your action is what the Chinese masters called giving life to life
Larry Rosenberg, Breath by Breath
photo adam jones
With our cell phones and PDA’s we are now able to be in touch with anyone and everyone at any time.
In the process, we run the risk of never being in touch with ourselves.
Jon Kabat Zinn
Photo theeerin
Mindfulness is the quality and power of mind that is deeply aware of what’s happening — without commentary and without interference. It is like a mirror that simply reflects whatever comes before it.
It serves us in the humblest ways, keeping us connected to brushing our teeth or having a cup of tea.
Joseph Goldstein, Here, Now, Aware: The Power of Mindfulness
