Tommy Posted Sunday at 02:04 PM I thought mindfulness comes from your practice. The more you are able to focus the mind and concentrate, you will then have more mindfulness thru out the day. Oh, the "You are not your thoughts" is very similar to trying to not identify with thoughts and drop the thinking mind. Of course, we do need to have a thinking mind to navigate the modern world. So, guess more with not identifying with thoughts. Eh, but what do I know. What do you define as mindfulness?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stirling Posted Sunday at 03:51 PM Mindfulness is your 100% present in this moment. The video is absolutely correct, demonstrably true to anyone who actually takes the time to try it. Mr. Dragon, didn't you say something along the lines of Buddhism being full of silly magic and fairy stories? How would you contrast this "awareness" that we actually are with the Dao? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tommy Posted yesterday at 11:22 AM On 2/15/2026 at 10:51 AM, stirling said: Mindfulness is your 100% present in this moment. How does one distinguish actually being 100% present in this moment and being identified with the thought of one being in the present moment? The trick of the mind is lead the ego into thinking one is doing something it isn't capable of doing?? Or is it the constant mind thought of being present in the moment that leads to being mindful?? Or am I just thinking too much about this?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stirling Posted yesterday at 07:10 PM 7 hours ago, Tommy said: How does one distinguish actually being 100% present in this moment and being identified with the thought of one being in the present moment? The trick of the mind is lead the ego into thinking one is doing something it isn't capable of doing?? Or is it the constant mind thought of being present in the moment that leads to being mindful?? Or am I just thinking too much about this?? When your meditation results in periods of stillness you will start to notice that thoughts arise spontaneously of their own accord... without your effort. With some practice you will learn to just watch thoughts arise and more and more occasionally pass, but without you having a 2nd thought that builds them into your mental dialog. At that time you have begun to sometimes identify as bare awareness in your sitting, rather than as the thoughts that you thought were "you". When you can rest in this perspective (that which watches phenomena and thoughts arise and pass) you can be 100% present for periods of time. Most students, with some guidance and genuine practice can come to this in its basic form in 2 weeks to a month of daily sitting. Some just stumble upon it. Having it pointed out, as I have, helps. Learning to see thoughts as something you witness, rather than "I" is the first step. If you are witnessing the thought, it obviously isn't "you", it is just another "object", like an orange on your table, or a mote of dust shifting lazily in the sun. Learning this process isn't something "you" do, it is what happens when you take the time to practice and learn to STOP doing. "You" will NEVER "do" it. Yes, thinking about it too much is a problem. It sounds like you are an experienced meditator, you have probably crossed this ground before many times, but without the perspective of teaching. It happens all the time in meditation, but we don't know to look for it. See how far you can get with the instruction above, and feel free to tag me in this thread, or message me if you need more guidance. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
