Mindful(ness) meditation

With concentration practice, we give the attention a target that will keep us anchored in the present moment. The target can be a physical object, or more commonly, our breathing. We give the mind something to focus on and this becomes the object of the meditation.

Whatever is used as the object for the attention, the aim is to keep the mind focused as often as we remember to do so. As the mind starts to wander, we simply direct the mind back toward the object of attention with a sense of “friendliness.”

What is "friendliness"? Whenever we become lost in thought or confusion, we simply acknowledge those thoughts and then gently re-focus our attention. If we consciously try to prevent thinking (or anything else for that matter), it’s going to have a negative impact on our practice. When we recognize we have become distracted, we can acknowledge that "part" of us, and gently bring our attention back.

We welcome and appreciate your mindful(ness) meditation techniques and experiences. Cross training and gaining as and individual and a community!