Essay on Right Mindfulness in Buddhism - 1089 Words

Right Mindfulness in Buddhism Buddhists emphasize having ‘Right Mindfulness’ as a vital part of meditation as well as one of the most important steps in the eight-fold path to enlightenment. Having mindfulness is being completely aware of what happens to us and in us and only focusing on these things. Right mindfulness, defined as â€Å"the clear and single-minded awareness of what actually happens to us and in us, at the successive moments of perception,† holds an essential role in the practice of Buddhist meditation (Klostermaier, Buddhism, Pg. 132). This same concept can be beneficial to people that do not even practice Buddhism. Living life in a state of mindfulness promotes relaxation, awareness, efficiency and control. All of†¦show more content†¦This is just one of many simple example of how living a mindful life can be beneficial because we learn to devote due attention to the people and causes that are most important to us. There are many â€Å"miracles† that inte grate into our lives when practicing mindfulness. The first two miracles are the ability to be aware of the present and to make whatever is present truly present in our minds. In other words, we learn to concentrate on the ‘now’ rather than the past or the future, by which most people tend to become distracted. For example, when we eat, we may be thinking of a wide range of things from what has happened already in the day to what we plan to be doing tomorrow. By being distracted in this manner, we never really get the opportunity to enjoy our meal. Concentrating on the meal that we are eating in the present time makes it present in our actions as well as in our mind. This awareness of our current actions results in the unique chance to enjoy the act of eating a meal. One may think that we must always be aware of the present, but there are many examples of when we are not. When we drive home after work, we do not concentrate on driving home, we think about what we will prepare for dinner and all of the tasks that we must complete before going to bed. Likewise, when we eat, we are constantly preparing for the next bite of food before we have enjoyedShow MoreRelatedBuddhism : The Philosophy And Religion1426 Words   |  6 PagesBuddhism originated 2,500 years ago in India and today – is the prevailing world religion in the East. There are more than 360 million followers of Buddhism, including one million American followers. Buddhism has branched into a diverse selection of forms throughout its long history, however, all methods of Buddhism share an admiration for the teachings of Buddha with the ultimate focus on ending suffering (Religionfacts.com, 2015). In the 6th century BC, Siddhartha or Gautama Buddha was born inRead MoreThe Religion Of Islam And Buddhism1476 Words   |  6 Pages Islam and Buddhism are two of the biggest religion in the world. 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