Beginning to Be Shannon Corpuz January 23, 2016 Christine Whitney Sanchez, MC
Beginning to Be Mindfulness as a practice is a process where people are taught to be aware of the present moment, and to notice all those experiences that we tend to overlook in our busy, daily lives. Mindfulness is defined as the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non judgmentally to the unfolding of experiences moment by moment (Kabat-Zinn, 2003) Mindfulness is a process; ever becoming more and more aware through mindful attention. It focuses on the present, not the past or the future- it is here and now. One must be non judgmental and accepting of the thoughts and feelings that arise when practicing mindfulness. Which means the present experience is what it is; it is not classified as good or evil or right or wrong. One needs to take in all the external sights, sounds, and smells, in addition to the internal sensations, thoughts and feelings. Then one observes them carefully, accepts them, and lets them go, in order to attend to another present experience. Origins of Mindfulness Most scholars feel that mindfulness has its origins in the Buddhist tradition, through Eastern practices of meditation: Mindfulness is founded on modern vipassana, the training of sati, which means "moment to moment awareness of present events", but also "remembering to be aware of something". It leads to insight into the true nature of reality, namely the three marks of existence, the impermanence of and the un-satisfactoriness of every conditioned thing that exists, and non-self. With this insight, the practitioner becomes a so called Sotāpanna, a "stream-enterer", the first stage on the path to liberation. 2
According to Paul Williams, a Buddhist that converted to Catholic Christianity (referring to Erich Frauwallner), mindfulness provided the way in early Buddhism to liberation, "constantly watching sensory experience in order to prevent the arising of cravings which would power future experience into rebirths." According to Tillman Vetter, the author of The Ideas and Meditation Practices of Early Buddhism (1988) dhyana (a series of cultivated states of mind, which lead to a "state of perfect equanimity and awareness Wikipedia) may have been the original core practice of the Buddha, which aided the maintenance of mindfulness. According to Thomas William Rhys Davids (British scholar who tried to promote Theravada Buddhism in England in the early 1900 s) the doctrine of mindfulness is "perhaps the most important" after the Four Noble Truths (stated below) and the Noble Eightfold Path. The Truth of Dukkha is that all conditional phenomena and experiences are not ultimately satisfying The Truth of the Origin of Dukkha is that craving for and clinging to what is pleasurable and aversion to what is not pleasurable result in becoming, rebirth, dissatisfaction, and re-death The Truth of the Cessation of Dukkha is that putting an end to this craving and clinging also means that rebirth, dissatisfaction, and redeath can no longer arise The Truth of the Path of Liberation from Dukkha is that by following the Noble Eightfold Path namely, behaving decently, cultivating discipline, 3
and practicing mindfulness and meditation one can learn to put an end to craving, to clinging, to becoming, to rebirth, to dissatisfaction, and to re-death. Mindfulness is often learned and practiced through meditation exercises. Mindfulness should not be confused with relaxation (Dimidjian & Linehan, 2003). They are related in that mindfulness may result in a more relaxed physical and mental state. However, the goal of mindfulness is not to become more relaxed, but to be aware of and accepting of whatever state the body and mind are in. Mindfulness can be practiced through meditation, but unlike these other techniques, mindfulness can be practiced through mindful eating, mindful driving, mindful walking, or any experience in our lives (Dimidjian & Linehan, 2003). Hinduism is another root of mindfulness practice. Hindus practiced a range of meditations, some of which involved mindfulness. According to Janeka Stagnaro (2015) Meditation Techniques from India, Meditational practices were being researched, refined and recorded by our distant ancestors who were settling in the Indian subcontinent four thousand years ago. Their heritage has become known as Hinduism, and embodies a vast literature, including some of the oldest written texts in existence. Woven into the ornate poetry of gods and heroes are precise methods for self-development and consciousness expansion. The emphasis is on practical experiential transformation. Hindu meditations are spiritual tools that originate in the Hindu tradition that brings one into a greater understanding with one's Self, or the Divine. It can be through either chanting, repeating mantras (sacred words and sounds), working with the body (Hatha Yoga) and breath (pranayama), meditating on sacred writings and teachings, and meditations that either focus on an image or those that go beyond all doings of the mind. When Westerners describe yoga, they generally are referring to Hatha Yoga, the yoga where one exercises thoughtful, meditative positions. Yet, there are different kinds of yogas. 4
Yoga means to yoke, or to to attach to, which doesn t sound very liberating, yet what yogis are attaching to is the Divine. Similarities and Difference of Buddhism and Hinduism Although both religions believe in Karma and rebirth, they differ in the manner in which they operate and impact the existence of individual beings. Yogita Karache (2013) Proud Indian discusses her comparisons: Hinduism is not founded by any particular prophet. Buddhism was founded by the Buddha. Hinduism believes in the efficacy and supremacy of the Vedas (Hindu scripture). The Buddhist do not believe in the Vedas or for that matter any Hindu scripture. Buddhism does not believe in the existence of souls as well in the first cause, whom we generally call God. Hinduism believes in the existence of 'Atman', that is the individual soul and Brahman, the Supreme Creator. Hinduism accepts the Buddha as an incarnation of Mahavishnu, one of the gods of the Hindu trinity. The Buddhist do not accept any Hindu god either as equivalent or superior to the Buddha. Buddhism acknowledges the existence of some gods and goddesses of Hindu pantheon, but give them a rather subordinate status. The original Buddhism as taught by the Buddha is known as Theravada Buddhism or Hinayana Buddhism. Followers of this do not worship images of the Buddha nor believe in the 5
Bodhisattvas. The Mahayana sect considers the Buddha as the Supreme Soul or the Highest Being, akin to the Brahman of Hinduism and worship him in the form of images and icons. The Buddhists consider the world to be full of sorrow and regard ending the sorrow as the chief aim of human life. The Hindus consider that there are four chief aims (Arthas) in life which every being should pursue. They are Dharma (religious duty), Artha (wealth or material possessions), Kama (desires and passions) and Moksha (salvation.) Hindus also believe in the four Ashramas or stages in life. This is not followed in Buddhism. People can join the Order any time depending upon their spiritual preparedness. Buddhists organize themselves into a monastic Order (Sangha) and the monks live in groups. Hinduism is basically a religion of the individual. Buddhism believes in the concept of Bodhisattvas. Hinduism does not believe in it. Hinduism offers many choices to its followers on the path of self-realization. Current Thought Leader Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn refers to Henry David Thoreau as a predecessor of the interest in mindfulness in the West, together with the other eminent Transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman: [The collective experience of sages, yogis, and Zen masters] offers a view of the world which is complementary to the predominantly reductionist and materialistic one currently dominating Western thought and institutions. But this view is neither particularly "Eastern" nor mystical. Thoreau saw the same problem with 6
our ordinary mind state in New England in 1846 and wrote with great passion about its unfortunate consequences. Dr. Johan Kabat-Zinn I find it noble that Dr. Kabat-Zinn chose to take his understanding of mindfulness and share it with the world in a way where others would benefit immensely. In 1979, Jon Kabat- Zinn founded the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program at the University of Massachusetts to treat the chronically ill. This program sparked the application of mindfulness ideas and practices in Medicine for the treatment of a variety of conditions in both healthy and unhealthy people. MBSR and similar programs are now widely applied in schools, prisons, hospitals, veteran s centers, and other environments. I admire the many ways in which he is helping the world to heal. Mindfulness is about love and loving life. When you cultivate this love, it gives you a clarity and compassion for life and your actions happen in accordance with that. All ethics and morality and a sense of interconnectedness, come out of the act of paying attention. -Jon Kabat-Zinn I like what Dr. Kabat-Zinn is doing for the world today and I like how he includes love in his definition of mindfulness. Love is such a vital part of life, of the human condition, not to downplay peace or joy, but somehow love is something that connects us all and it seems appropriate for someone who practices mindfulness to be aware of how large a role love plays in our castastrophe. In his writings, and when listening to his writings audibly, Dr. Kabat-Zinn inspires me to practice mindfulness daily so I can learn to be free so I can learn to be. I pay attention now to almost everything I do and notice what happens internally and externally in response to what I am doing. I notice and am more aware of emotions as they arise, but am 7
better at letting them come and go without feeling a need to act on them as a means to restore my peace. I know that peace cannot be found that way anymore. Conclusion Mindfulness as a practice has become to be an important part of my daily life. Dr. Kabat- Zinn s book: Mindfulness for Beginners has intrigued me with its simplicity and various ideas for using Mindfulness in everyday life. Dr. Kabat-Zinn understands how, in our demanding culture, the busyness and stress, that we all create for ourselves and internalize, will inevitably harm us. With his practice methods, I can practice it while doing just about anything, not just sitting. This is key, for most of us lead very active, lives. As I am an active part of Western culture today, I don t only need mindfulness, I hunger for it. Dr. Kabat-Zinn s experience with Eastern religions, philosophy and culture, combined with his indigenous knowledge of the West, his scientific intellect, his Godly compassion and his desire to serve others has impacted our world in a way, few people have. He used what he knew (Buddhism, Judaism, Transcendentalism, just to name a few) despite many differences, and put the common thread of these practices all together to create change; health and well being for others. I have only even known about mindfulness for two weeks, and already it has helped me to begin to be. 8
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Karache, Yogita (2013). What are the primary differences between Hinduism and Buddhism? Discussion on Quora.com. Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/what-are-theprimary-differences-between-hinduism-and-buddhism Kabat-Zinn, Jon (2012). Mindfulness In the Modern World: An Interview With John Kabat- Zinn (with Stephan Rechtschaffen, cofounder of Omega) Omega.org retrieved from http://www.eomega.org/article/mindfulness-in-the-modern-world-an-interview-with-jonkabat-zinn Vetter, Tilmann (1988). The ideas and Meditative Practices of Early Buddhism. Retrieved from http://www.ahandfulofleaves.org/documents/the%20ideas%20and%20meditative%20pr actices%20of%20early%20buddhism_vetter.pdf Alidina, Shamash; Marshall, Joelle Jane (2013). The Origins of Mindfulness. Mindfulness Workbook For Dummies Retrieved http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/theorigins-of-mindfulness.html Stagnaro, Janaka (2015). Mindfulness Mediation Techniques.com. Retrieved from http://www.mindfulness-meditation-techniques.com/hindu-meditations.html 10