The Misconception of Mindfulness Is Where It Begins

[wchohan]

I initiated my pursuit for mindfulness sometime back and with the consistent on going practice of its achievement, soon, must one realize that Mindfulness is not really a linear path which one must follow in order to attain self understanding and the soulful peace from within.

It is a matter of controlling thoughts and leading them in a much more organized form which allows you to always remember it, even in situation you have forgotten its existence in yourself.

To begin the practice of mindfulness, it may not only be the case that it begins with something someone tells you, it may be a gathering of several writings, teachings and everyday life lessons which may allow for that to happen.

Mindfulness simply being with one being aware of the surroundings and having the capacity to remains extracted from the life troubles which have more of an artificial stance in our existence rather than the positivity which is left undiscovered commonly.

Let it begin with the unawareness as the art is to excrete the very inner intention to solidly walk on the wire of being mindful everyday.

[JonW]

Hi wchohan .
Welcome to the forum.
Good to hear from you.
I'm a little bit confused by your post, particularly the line: "It is a matter of controlling thoughts and leading them in a much more organised form."
My understanding about mindfulness is that it is not about controlling anything, including thoughts and feelings. Rather, it is the controlling of thoughts and feelings that lead to suffering.
To be mindful in relation to our thoughts, we don't seek to control them. Instead we notice the thought arising and falling away, without becoming attached to its content. We are not our thoughts. Thoughts, as Jon Kabat-Zinn has written, "are mere secretions of the mind." Thoughts are not facts. They are transient. They have no power unless we grant them that power.
With regard to emotions...As Melli writes on another thread, "Once you have become aware of the feeling, stop for a moment. Take a deep breath and then ‘sit with’ the anger, shame, guilt, anger, anxiety, frustration and fear. Don’t inhibit it, suppress it, ignore it or try to conquer it. Just be with it with an attitude of open curiosity and acceptance."
It's worth reading Melli's entire post, which really gets to the heart of what mindfulness is.
All best,
Jon

[MrBlueSky]

Mindfulness is definitely nothing to do with controlling thoughts. We allow to arise and fall away whatever comes to our awareness. Things that arise in our awareness can be considered objects in our awareness. Whether that be body sensations, thoughts, feelings. When we see these things as objects arising in our awareness we begin to see the expansive, lucid, free field of awareness in which these things arise. Once we recognize that field of awareness we can build a relationship to it and then I find that thoughts become much less distracting or troublesome.

[JonW]

Agreed MrBlueSky. Great post.