rocala

A Lack of Mindfulness?

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Hi, I am currently reading Sangharakshita's 'What is the Dharma'. In a section on the Five Spiritual Faculties of Buddhism he mentions that four of them  may be compared to the "four principal yogas of Hinduism".

Faith with Bhakti, Wisdom with Jnana, Energy (spritual vigour) with Karma and Meditative concentration with Rajah.

 

The fifth faculty, Mindfulness, does not seem to have an equivalent. In fact the author states that "mindfulness is not stressed in Hinduism at all".

Sangharakshita takes this further and suggests that the lack of mindfulness is a reason why Hindus tend to specialise in one form of yoga as opposed to the Buddhist idea of developing all, mindfulness being essential.

Sri Aurobindo is mentioned as an exception with his integral yoga, but still no mindfulness.

 

Any comments from those with knowledge of Hinduism?

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2 hours ago, rocala said:

Hi, I am currently reading Sangharakshita's 'What is the Dharma'. In a section on the Five Spiritual Faculties of Buddhism he mentions that four of them  may be compared to the "four principal yogas of Hinduism".

Faith with Bhakti, Wisdom with Jnana, Energy (spritual vigour) with Karma and Meditative concentration with Rajah.

 

The fifth faculty, Mindfulness, does not seem to have an equivalent. In fact the author states that "mindfulness is not stressed in Hinduism at all".

Sangharakshita takes this further and suggests that the lack of mindfulness is a reason why Hindus tend to specialise in one form of yoga as opposed to the Buddhist idea of developing all, mindfulness being essential.

Sri Aurobindo is mentioned as an exception with his integral yoga, but still no mindfulness.

 

Any comments from those with knowledge of Hinduism?

How does one meditate without being mindful? :) 

Mindfulness is a part of the meditative system. Karma is not energetic btw, more about selfless/desireless action. 

 

In hindu tradition there is the study of Advaita Vedanta where a large part of the preliminary practice is based on being mindful. 

 

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Sangharakshita needs to take a step back, but basically I think you're right, rocala. No talk of mindfulness. In a way "mindfulness" is akin to to pretending to be the witness in vedanta. There are so many layers of understanding, and communicating this stuff.. And yet the underlying truth is dead simple.

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