Mini or maxi?

[Brad]

In my experience so far, the analogy I would use is this: formal meditation practice is the rocket that gets your mind out of the woods and into the sky, while informal practice is the parachute that can keep you in the sky for longer.

So formal practice is a must for mindfulness, while informal I see as an optional supplement to the formal meditation. That's been my experience any time I've attempted to focus only on informal practice.

[JonW]

"Formal meditation practice is the rocket that gets your mind out of the woods and into the sky, while informal practice is the parachute that can keep you in the sky for longer."

Wonderful.

[Gareth]

But is it possible to get yourself so high in the rocket and deploy a big enough parachute that you never come down?

[JonW]

According to Jed McKenna, there are only fifty people alive at any one time who possess such a rocket and such a parachute.

[BioSattva]

I find the idea of this mini and maxi meditation a little strange - as if one considers mindfulness practise something which needs to be stopped at the end of one's 'mini' practise.

I just feel relieved when I remember to be mindful in any situation and I try to continue it for as long as possible once I have remembered. I don't really actively practice small stints, like saying "OK, that's enough mindfulness, now back to mindlessness". That sounds like a bad way to go about amplifying a healthy habit - especially since there will be a whole host of unhealthy habitual appetites already preventing one from remaining naturally mindful in one's life.

Maybe I am misunderstanding the idea.

[FeeHutch]

For me mini practice means consciously being mindful in any given situation, bringing my full attention and being present. I try to be mindful always but more often than not do loose my focus. I never choose to stop being mindful on purpose but my monkey mind scampers away many times a day