'Gently' bringing the attention back.

[Gareth]

In a whole host of different mindfulness guides, I have seen the instruction: 'gently bring the attention back to the present moment, when you notice your attention has gone.' It is the word 'gently' that I have a bit of a bit of an issue with. When I notice my attention gone, it feels like a mental "oh no" and lurching back to the present moment. Often, it doesn't feel very gentle at all. I don't really see it as much of a problem with my practice, but it always feels like something that is at odds with what more experienced mindfulness practicioners are telling me.

Gareth

[One Aware]

Hi Gareth:

I too am familiar with "gently" in various books etc. I take it to mean recognizing what is on my mind for what it is, letting it be, and then returning to the object of my meditation. I think the concept of "letting it be" suggests a "non aggressive action" with respect to the distraction (ie. not pushing it away) - couple that with not "beating yourself up" for wandering suggests a gentle or passive realization and acceptance of what has happened. At least, that's the way I see it.

Perhaps you could take a short moment to just leave the distraction hanging after you recognize your mind has wandered then proceed once again with your meditation. I was told the actual "art of meditation" was really taking place when we recognize and return from distraction. Makes sense too since you actually have become "mindful" that your mind has wandered.

[rara]

I was told the actual "art of meditation" was really taking place when we recognize and return from distraction.

Yes Gareth, along these lines...if my mind ever wanders, I acknowledge the thoughts and visualise them flying away from my head. Once I've seen that they've gone on their way, I feel that the only thing left is what I was supposed to be concentrating on!

[LoveBeforeAllElse]

In my opinion it has a lot to do with the mindset that you'd want to strive for in a spiritual practice. Just letting things be the way they are as Rara said. But on top of that I've noticed that when I often gently I bring my attention back during practices I have a lot of cases throughout the day where my mind automatically falls into mindful states and then the practice starts right then again. I think it has a lot to do with the way the brain works at higher states of consciousness, or maybe just the way the brain works in general.