Mindfulness and Focus

[Kacy]

Hello Community!

I've been interested in meditation and mindfulness for some time now and its benefits are obvious to me, but there is one thing I need help with.

There is no problem in being mindful or taking a position of observer of my body while doing nothing focus-starving in particular, like listening to music, walking or having a conversation.

But I have doubts whether being mindful while reading a book or studying difficult text really is beneficial, since concentration on the text is lessened by it therefore it is more difficult to comprehend.

What are your opinions on this matter?

Many thanks and best regards!

[JonW]

Hi Kacy.
I'm not sure I understand your question.
When reading a book, just attend to reading the book. When cooking a meal, just attend to the meal. This is not about being self-conscious. It's about being alive to what is happening in the moment. It's about being gentle towards yourself and not being too attached to your thoughts and feelings.
Could you explain what this means: "while doing nothing focus-starving in particular."
That confused me. Sorry.
All best, Jon

[Metaphysical Me]

Hi Kacy,
I understand your question but can't think of a direct answer to it.

Let me say, however, that I struggle with chronic back pain and do mindfulness practice for that often. When I'm at home, and can take a quiet moment and close my eyes, I do what I think of as "deep mindfulness".

However, when I'm out and about town, the pain can be quite strong too, and then I like to do what I call "half-brain mindfulness". That means that I cannot use my whole brain for the practice, cos I need at least half of it for running my errands or not walking into someone, etc.

I find "half-brain mindfulness" useful for situations in which I simply can't "relax and close my eyes".

Maybe you could try that?

And, yeah, I think using that kind of "half-brain" mindfulness could be helpful for completing whatever other task it is you are doing (unless you are driving a car or something similar, of course).

XXX Janey

[Metaphysical Me]

Haha, I think we posted at the same moment, Jon.
I'm assuming Kacy means something like the contrast of being mindful in a "being" situation as opposed to a "doing" situation.
And sometimes, we just gotta be "doing" stuff, don't we... So, I'm assuming she's asking how to bring *some* mindfulness to a doing situation, without it turning into a full "being" situation (due to the mindfulness practice) and her then not getting anything "done" (in this case her studies).

Yes? No? Kacy?

[JonW]

Seems we did, MM.
But this is surely over-thinking it all?
Our lives are not split into moments of being and doing. Every moment is an invitation to attend to that moment with self-compassion, non-judgmentally.
There is no half-mindfulness. That is not the practice. You cannot practice mindfulness with half a brain. There is no half-brain.
With respect, what you are referring to is more about self-help and has little to do with the teachings of Jon Kabat-Zinn, Mark Williams, Vidyamala Burch etc.

[Metaphysical Me]

Haha, I've managed to be contentious, right off the bat then, without even meaning to!

I'm not sure that I subscribe to "teachings" - I think everyone has their own brain to use, and yep, I certainly use half of mine for "other things" often enough.

I think what I'm referring to is just practical, pragmatic normal day living. I'm sure monks and ppl leading a similar lifestyle have the luxury of being mindful 24/7, but for normal folks, it's not possible to be mindful all the time, and I'm not sure I even strive for that, actually.

I've learned that moderation and humour are key elements of mindfulness for me, and so yep, having half my brain focused on being mindful, while the other half is busy "doing" the errands about town, works fine.

Sure, in an ideal world, we'd all be mindful about everything all the time, but I'd wager that this world we're living in isn't all that ideal. So, while I maybe shouldn't be running errands, or Kacy should perhaps not be studying or reading, if that gets in the way of her being 100% mindful, it's simply not realistic, if you ask me.

We all live in a capitalist society, that comes with some pretty tough rules - with quite a few "eat or be eaten" type situations - and sometimes you just need to *deal* with life, to get by. And I don't think that's self-help at all - that's just common sense self-preservation in a challenging world...

[Metaphysical Me]

P.S. "Being mode" and "doing mode" were coined, I believe, by Jon Kabat-Zinn and Mark Williams.

This ain't stuff that I've made up!


Quote: "The two main modes of mind include the “doing” mode and “being” mode. The “doing” mode is also known as the driven mode. This mode is very goal-oriented and is triggered when the mind develops a discrepancy between how things are versus how the mind wishes things to be. The second main mode of mind is the “being” mode. “Being” mode, is not focused on achieving specific goals, instead the emphasis is on “accepting and allowing what is,” without any immediate pressure to change it." (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulnes ... ve_therapy)

[JonW]

Nobody is suggesting that we need to be 100% mindful and nobody who claims to be should be taken seriously.
This has nothing to do with striving for a result.
For me, concepts like "half-mindfulness' only confuse the issue. That's the point I'm making.
All best, Jon

[piedwagtail91]

"But I have doubts whether being mindful while reading a book or studying difficult text really is beneficial, since concentration on the text is lessened by it therefore it is more difficult to comprehend.
What are your opinions on this matter?"

surely reading 'mindfully' is more beneficial because you're focussed on reading rather than reading and daydreaming /planning holidays /shopping trips/solving problems at the same time?

as jon says there is no half mindfulness.

you can be 'doing' (for want of a better word!) anything and be mindful, it's not about sitting or lying down with your eyes closed, it's about being fully aware of what you're doing as you're doing it and that can be anything, even making a brew/cup of tea.

formal mindfulness is the sitting down practice, everyday mindfulness is applying it to daily life and making mindfulness part of life.

[Kacy]

Thank you very much for your replies!

Perhaps I have a misconception of being mindful. I thought that to be mindful i.e during brewing a tea is to be aware that I am brewing tea, not only focusing on that action.

surely reading 'mindfully' is more beneficial because you're focussed on reading rather than reading and daydreaming /planning holidays /shopping trips/solving problems at the same time?

If I understand you correctly reading mindfully is just reading with pure concentration on the text without allowing or encountering any distracting thoughts. I thought that reading mindfully would be focusing on reading and being aware that you are reading.

Again, maybe I'm completely misconceived but to me being mindful is to be aware and that requires some dose of focus. And this is the foundation of my previous question.

There are certain actions that requires less focus. Especially automatic bodily functions as breathing or walking does not require any attention. Therefore its not hard to i.e walk on the sand by the sea, feel the sand on you feet, see and hear the waves, smell the salt from the water etc, and be aware of all those sensations. Focusing on receiving all these sensations is light enough that it leaves some concentration to be used as being also aware of those sensations. That is what I would call being mindful.

But there are also action that requires all possible focus you brain have available. I am studying philosophy and I frequently come across texts that require all my intellectual strength and focus. If I do not focus entirely on the text I won't understand it. So I cannot spare any focus to read and also be aware that I am actually reading.

Maybe its a matter of practice, maybe mindfulness practitioners with whole life experience of meditation have no trouble in doing that. I'm not sure

Also I really like the notions of "being" and "doing" modes of the mind, very interesting topic to explore.

I hope that what I've written is even remotely comprehensible

Best regards