Integrating Ancient Wisdom in Modern Life: Mindfulness
- Mind is a combination of four aspects – Mann – input brought by 5 senses, Chitta – accumulates memories, Ahamkara – Neutral and Buddhi/Intelligence controls Mann, Chitta and Ahamkara.
- When Intelligence becomes unconscious Mann will take charge. And start controlling. When Mann starts controlling we become unconscious towards ourselves. When Mann is controlled by Intelligence he is best friend and when Mann starts controlling he becomes our worst enemy and we become totally self-undisciplined. Intelligence is the strongest aspect of mind. Who knows and decides. It has the quality to discriminate and direct. This is called Mindfulness.
- 5 parameters of Mindfulness – Be Impartial (non Judgemetal), Acceptance of Yourself and Others, Noticing the Emotions & Thoughts without any Involvement, Be in the moment and Be Observant.
- Yoga means to restrain the mind from three types of instinct, thought patterns. They are Tamasik (Negative), Rajshik (Positive) and Satvik (Netural). Unless we restrain our minds from three instincts we are not ready for samadhi. We will take birth again and again till the time we undo the instincts. First step to liberation is to liberate ourselves from our instincts.
- Patterns are our preachers. Patterns are the partners of growth, we evolve, we learn. Patterns are the pointers of your promotion. Growth from the pattern happens only when the energy which has been blocked by the pattern is released.
- As soon as we realise that we are finding fault either with others, circumstances or rarely with ourselves we are blocking our energy by our pattern. Immediately move inward by doing anything which takes you inwards. For example you get angry. Even the science says that if you focus on the breath you will calm down. Means when you are angry and instead of putting your energy for any fault-finding pattern you have moved inside by focusing on breath. You have broken the pattern by your realisation. The energy has calmed down your mind. Your realisation of the pattern has become a stepping stone for your growth. In Yoga it is called restraining the mind.
- Live consciously – whatever you are doing – walking, sitting, eating….or, if you don’t do anything, just breathing, relaxing, laying in the grass – never forget, that you are the watcher. Make it an ongoing process …. You will be surprised how your life changes in its entire quality.
