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Colonel Prashant Rawal

Mindfulness Meditation

Updated: Jul 23, 2023


Mindfulness is the Buddhist practice of focusing one’s attention on what is happening in the here and now. This is done by freeing us from mental habits that engage in fears, desires, expectations, judgments, attachments, prejudices, judgments, etc. The word mindfulness is actually a misnomer. This is because the act itself empties the mind, not fills it.

Mindfulness meditation is a form of meditation that focuses attention on the present moment without judging or fixating on thoughts, feelings, and sensations. This is a practice that originates from Buddhist traditions but is also widely used in secular settings to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.

The main purpose of mindfulness meditation is to increase your awareness of the present moment. This can be achieved by consciously paying attention to the breath, body movements, thoughts, and emotional sensations that arise in the present moment. This practice encourages individuals to observe these experiences without getting carried away or trying to change them.

Mindfulness meditation is accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds and can be practiced individually or in groups. It is important to remember that mindfulness meditation, like any other skill, requires constant practice to experience its full benefits. Many people find it helpful to start with short sessions and gradually lengthen them as they get used to the practice.

It is maintaining moment-to-moment awareness of our immediate thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings. Mindfulness is not meant to help us escape from reality, but to see reality clearly beyond the veil of deception of our ego. Mindfulness is natural because we pay attention to “what is”.

Mindfulness meditation is not a form of religious observance or prayer. It explores how the mind works, and how to quiet it, and reveals the inner spaciousness in which wisdom and compassion readily emerge. With mindfulness, you don’t suppress or entertain your thoughts, just notice them, return to your breath, and gently return yourself to your place, like a kind parent does to a lost child.

The bridge from distraction back to the here and now is the physical experience of paying attention to our breathing. You remain a witness. It means standing apart but being always aware. This awareness allows you to open your mind and patiently return to your breathing. You are wakeful at all times.

To attain mindfulness one needs a healthy ego that is full of inner unity, continuity, and a willingness to assimilate the reality as it is. When the ego is annihilated, mindfulness leads to the higher Self, Jung’s wholeness of the individual. The aim is to give in wholeheartedly and enjoy the experience.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha



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