Does anyone know "stare a spot on the wall" exercise?

[Peter]

I didn't realize you were a beginner, John. My mistake!

As Jon mentioned: for beginners I would recommend against this approach.

I think you'd be making it more difficult! You'd be much better of focusing on your body.

I'd recommend doing 'the' 8 weeks course, or, if you like to do it yourself, reading/following this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindfulness-pra ... 074995308X

Peter

[Peter]

I also like to add: There are no shortcuts here. There's no trick to 'learn mindfulness' faster. The experience (goal if you like) is now, and now only! There is no end game, no end state. Over time, things begin to change and become clearer automatically (for most). But it is a by-product, not a goal.

Peter

[JohnReset]

I didn't realize you were a beginner, John. My mistake!

As Jon mentioned: for beginners I would recommend against this approach.

I think you'd be making it more difficult! You'd be much better of focusing on your body.

I'd recommend doing 'the' 8 weeks course, or, if you like to do it yourself, reading/following this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindfulness-pra ... 074995308X

Peter

Thanks, I'm doing the 8-week course. Today is the 1st day of the third week (mindful movement).

I also like to add: There are no shortcuts here. There's no trick to 'learn mindfulness' faster. The experience (goal if you like) is now, and now only! There is no end game, no end state. Over time, things begin to change and become clearer automatically (for most). But it is a by-product, not a goal.

Peter

I understand what you said. No shortcut to learn mindfulness faster.

I need to improve my focus and attention skills also for other goals of mine. But as you said, that can work against my goal to be here and now.

Thanks for every single reply.

I love you.

[Peter]

I'm glad I could be of help!

Good luck with your journey!

Peter

[JohnReset]

http://www.vipassana.com/meditation/min ... ish_16.php

This is what I mean when I started this thread. I think that concentration can improve mindfulness skill.

What do you think about?

[JonW]

Hi John,
Peter raises some excellent points there, particularly about having goals.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with having goals in life. But mindfulness really isn't a goal-oriented practice. We might come to mindfulness with goals in mind - to be less depressed, less anxious, more sociable etc. But those goals tend to fall away when we realise that mindfulness is about being present in our lives and about being attentive to our inattentiveness.
As paradoxical as it sounds, mindfulness isn't about getting anywhere. It's about being with our experience, right now.
If we start thinking, "I'm meditating so that I can be more mindful so that I can...", the practice tends to unravel. We are not meditating for a specific outcome or to reach a particular state. We're just meditating.
I hope that makes some sense.
All best wishes,
Jon, Hove

[Peter]

Hi John,

That's an excellent article that you've linked to, and I totally agree with it.

I can also understand, and agree that focusing is the more important part in the beginning of the practice.

I myself did nothing but body scans for the first year! I did it all the time. When I was lying in bed, just sitting, driving my car, in the train, on my bicycle, while I was walking, etc! I think that really helped 'my mindfulness'. But there wasn't a goal behind it! I just loved doing body scans, and needed nothing else for a long time.

If you really like to emphasize the focus-part more at the beginning, I'd recommend that you don't focus on an external object. I can highly recommend doing body scans in stead!

Peter

[Edited]

[JohnReset]

Hi John,
Peter raises some excellent points there, particularly about having goals.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with having goals in life. But mindfulness really isn't a goal-oriented practice. We might come to mindfulness with goals in mind - to be less depressed, less anxious, more sociable etc. But those goals tend to fall away when we realise that mindfulness is about being present in our lives and about being attentive to our inattentiveness.
As paradoxical as it sounds, mindfulness isn't about getting anywhere. It's about being with our experience, right now.
If we start thinking, "I'm meditating so that I can be more mindful so that I can...", the practice tends to unravel. We are not meditating for a specific outcome or to reach a particular state. We're just meditating.
I hope that makes some sense.
All best wishes,
Jon, Hove

What if you're goal is: being in the moment and enjoy the life, the senses, the moment? The goal is intrinsic. That's my goal.

I'm not able to live in the moment as I used to be when I was a kid. I want to reconnect to the beauty of the life. I think mindfulness is what I look for.

I just started this topic to see if concentration exercises works against mindfulness.

Hi John,

That's an excellent article that you've linked to, and I totally agree with it.

I can also understand, and agree that focusing is the more important part in the beginning of the practice.

I myself did nothing but body scans for the first year! I did it all the time. When I was lying in bed, just sitting, driving my car, in the train, on my bicycle, while I was walking, etc! I think that really helped 'my mindfulness'. But there wasn't a goal behind it! I just loved doing body scans, and needed nothing else for a long time.

If you really like to emphasize the focus-part more at the beginning, I'd recommend that you don't focus on an external object. I can highly recommend doing body scans in stead!

Peter

[Edited]

Thanks for your help. I'm a beginner and I found this forum very helpful.

[JonW]

Those goals are very feasible, John.
In many ways, mindfulness is a process of unlearning - unlearning those habits that prevent us from living in the moment like when we were kids.
It sounds like you've hit the ground running with this. I hope you stick around and share your journey with us.
Good things,
Jon

[Peter]

"In many ways, mindfulness is a process of unlearning"
Very nicely put, Jon!!

I think kids live very much in the moment, but they are very unaware! They have no idea of Self, and identify with everything very strongly!

Peter