Zen Master Dahui talked about the place “where the road of words and speech ends” (言語道斷) and “where the domain of mental activity disappears” (心行處滅). Meditation is connecting with that place through immediate experience – What’s right in front you, right now? Mindfulness is letting go of thinking and judgment, and returning to the mindContinue reading “What is the Place of No Thought?”
Tag Archives: thinking
What Are You Carrying?
When we come to meditation, we might be carrying a lot of things with us. There are lots of things swirling around in our mind: A concern we are worrying about, what someone said to us, an upcoming vacation, the list goes on and on. Mindfulness meditation is an opportunity to “put it all down.”Continue reading “What Are You Carrying?”
How Do I Find Peace?
I’ve heard many people say that they want to learn mindfulness meditation because they want to have some peace in their lives. How do we find peace, and what does mindfulness have to do with peace? Peace comes from the Latin word “pax” which means “tranquility, absence of war.” Our lives can be very busyContinue reading “How Do I Find Peace?”
What is the Difference Between Formal and Informal Mindfulness Practice?
Formal practice is the soil, and informal practice is the harvest that comes out of the soil. Formal mindfulness practice is the time we set aside each day to practice the formal mindfulness technique – bringing our attention to the present moment, bringing our attention to the breath. When our mind wanders, we notice theContinue reading “What is the Difference Between Formal and Informal Mindfulness Practice?”
How Do I Calm Down My Wandering Mind?
Being distracted and unfocused during meditation is very common. Having a wandering mind during meditation is very common. It doesn’t mean that you are doing it wrong, or that you are “not cut out for mindfulness meditation.” It’s OK that many thoughts come up and distract us during meditation. The mindfulness technique is to noticeContinue reading “How Do I Calm Down My Wandering Mind?”
How Do I Let Go of Thoughts?
First step in letting go of thoughts is to notice them. Being aware that we are wrapped up in thoughts instead of being in the present. Thoughts include all mental constructs/activities: Concepts Imagery Stories Fantasies Ongoing commentary Planning Worrying Memories Judgment Thoughts about thoughts In summary, thoughts are anything the mind does that pulls usContinue reading “How Do I Let Go of Thoughts?”
Mindfulness FAQ 