| Mindfulness is that quality of conscious awareness of | | | | Nothing is excluded; nothing is abandoned. We choose |
| whatever arises in our present experience in which | | | | to turn towards our experiences: painful as well as |
| there is an attitude of engaged-presence. | | | | joyful, and greet each as having the right to exist, |
| Mindfulness is both very simple and very profound, and | | | | greeting each as something to be valued and cared |
| to really benefit from its remarkable powers you have | | | | for with kindness and compassion. |
| to approach the subject with a complete openness of | | | | Mindfulness begins with opening the mind and opening |
| mind and heart – but, of course, that is what | | | | the heart and choosing to be completely present with |
| mindfulness, or sati in the Pali Sanskrit dialect in which | | | | whatever arises in our experience, quite different that |
| the Buddha's teachings were first recorded over 2000 | | | | the blind reactivity of the unaware mind. This quality of |
| years ago, is all about. Indeed, this gives us an insight | | | | engaged-presence is perhaps one of the most |
| into one of the many dimensions of mindfulness: the | | | | important dimensions of mindfulness. It is not just about |
| quality of openness that goes beyond our usual | | | | opening to experience, not just about seeing what is |
| attitude of tolerance to a level of intense interest and | | | | happening as it is happening, but of choosing to be fully |
| delight in whatever arises in our field of experience. | | | | there with our experience, or with the experience of |
| That is openness of mind: the motivation to investigate | | | | another person, or indeed with the world in general. |
| and to penetrate below the superficial appearance of | | | | This can be described as the difference between |
| things to reveal the rich inner dimension of experience | | | | being and becoming. When we are mindful, we enter |
| in all its sensory and experiential detail. Everyone has | | | | into a relationship with the object of mindfulness |
| experience of the profound pleasure that comes from | | | | characterized by being, a state of inner stillness and |
| delving into a hobby or project and becoming intimately | | | | non-reactivity where there lots of space to receive |
| connected with the subtlety and detailed workings of | | | | and to respond. The state of becoming is a |
| that project. Contrast this to the indifference, apathy | | | | characteristic of the reactive mind, the contracted mind |
| and negativity of those individuals who have no | | | | that is never able to be fully present with whatever is |
| interest or are prevented from developing intimacy | | | | happening now such a mind is forever moving away |
| with their world. It is a simple truth that lack of intimacy | | | | from the now towards something other. |
| is unsatisfying and painful, whereas complete intimacy | | | | There are many other dimensions of mindfulness, |
| and connection with life experiences is profoundly | | | | which may become the subject of future articles, but |
| nourishing and brings great happiness. Mindfulness has | | | | suffice it to say that learning this simple response to |
| this quality of intimacy and connection with all aspects | | | | our emotional suffering characterized by openness of |
| of our life's unfolding drama. In fact, one of the most | | | | mind and openness of heart is the beginning of the |
| direct effects that come with the cultivation of | | | | healing process. It produces an inner spacious |
| mindful-awareness is the phenomenon of sensory | | | | dimension in which change can happen. As I frequently |
| enrichment; as we look more closely at things with an | | | | say to my clients and students: |
| openness of mind, we naturally see and experience | | | | ‘Reactivity inhibits change; mindfulness promotes |
| more – more sensory detail. Literally, our experience | | | | change. The Path of Mindfulness is the empowering |
| is transformed from black-and-white into vibrant color. | | | | choice of creating the fertile space in which beneficial |
| Our experience becomes more dynamic and alive; we | | | | change can take place' |
| feel more alive. Contrast this with the sensory | | | | Peter Strong, PhD is a scientist, author and Buddhist |
| depravation that results from the habitual reactivity of | | | | Psychotherapist, based in Boulder, Colorado, who |
| the state of unawareness and un-mindfulness. Such | | | | specializes in the study of mindfulness and its |
| un-mindfulness, being out-of-touch with experience and | | | | application in Mindfulness Psychotherapy for healing the |
| lacking intimate contact with our experience is in | | | | root causes of anxiety, depression and traumatic |
| Buddhist psychology regarded as the realm of death, | | | | stress. |
| personified by Mara – the one who keeps us in a | | | | Besides face-to-face therapy sessions, Dr Strong |
| state of ignorance and dissociation from reality. | | | | offers Online Mindfulness Meditation Therapy through |
| The second part of this particular dimension of | | | | Skype and email correspondence. Teaching seminars |
| mindfulness is openness of heart. This is described by | | | | are available for groups and companies. |
| terms such as friendliness, warmth and compassion. | | | | Visit Email inquiries welcome. |
| This is where we warmly greet each and every | | | | You can purchase a copy of Dr Strong's book |
| aspect of our experience with a smile; we learn to | | | | ‘The Path of Mindfulness Meditation' at |
| smile at whatever arises, pleasant or unpleasant, | | | | Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Amazon.co. |
| beautiful or ugly, big or small, significant or insignificant. | | | | |