All of these [meditation] instructions apply the perspective of bare attention to whatever experience arises. “Bare” here means simple, direct, non-interfering and non judging. Attention refers to mindfulness, awareness,not forgetting. So bare attention is simple, direct, non-interfering awareness. Alert and relaxed we are not looking for any experience in particular, we are simply awake to what presents itself. Observing in this way opens up worlds we may have never noticed ….
Sometimes the simplest things are overlooked because they are so simple. A profound aspect of bare attention is its natural capacity to include everything. When we are just being with what is, nothing falls outside of the way of awareness. A mirror doesn’t choose what to reflect; its nature simply reflects whatever comes before it. Can we practice this same mirror-like wisdom of mind?
Joseph Goldstein, One Dharma
Afflictive mental states begin with self-centeredness, with an increase in the gap between self and others. These states are related to excessive self-importance and self-cherishing associated with fear or resentment towards others, and grasping for outer things as part of a hopeless pursuit of selfish happiness. A selfish pursuit of happiness is a lose-lose situation: you make yourself miserable and make others miserable as well. Inner conflicts are often linked with excessive rumination on the past and anticipation of the future. You are not truly paying attention to the present moment, but are engrossed in your thoughts, going on and on in a vicious circle.
