For some people, the word 'mindfulness' has become a bit of a buzzword. But mindfulness is not a new-fangled idea or technique that has been taken out of its Eastern context and thrust upon us. It's not just another fluffy concept that's supposed to distract us from the real issues at hand.

Rather, it is a practice and way of living that goes back thousands of years. It's known as smrti in Sanskrit – meaning 'to remember' or 'to recollect' – and it points to the notion that our lives are made up of moments, both pleasant and unpleasant.

Mindfulness is about observing the mind in action, allowing it to run its course without becoming caught up in its content. We don't have to identify with every passing thought or emotion. We can stand back from the drama of mental activity, the chatter of the thinking mind, and allow its incessant activity to play out without becoming attached to it or involved in it. This requires training – you can't just make a New Year's resolution one day that you will no longer get caught up in your own thinking process!

The challenge for us is to be more mindful – to notice what is going on in these moments – so that we can make informed choices about how we deal with them rather than simply reacting on auto-pilot.

Mindfulness is an inner quality we can develop through meditation and other techniques, but it also has practical applications in everyday life.

By becoming more aware of what we are feeling and thinking, we can make better decisions about how to act and handle our emotions (rather than having them dictate our behavior).

The ability to do this comes through mindfulness meditation practice. By learning to observe the flow of mental events rather than identifying with them, we become less susceptible to getting caught up in their drama.

Mindfulness gives us a practical way to get in touch with the wholeness of our being, to see ourselves for who we are.

It brings us back to the present moment and helps us to see things as they are.

Sammasati, mindfulness, is an antidote to greed, hatred, and delusion because it helps us to see how we hold them in place through our unconscious identification with our thoughts and feelings. By not getting caught up in these destructive states of mind, we weaken their hold over us.

Tara Brach says: "When we are mindful of what's going on inside us – our emotions, the cravings that spur some habitual actions, the self-doubt that can sabotage our efforts – then we can recognize what's happening without getting carried away by it. We can see that it's just a feeling or emotion or thought that will pass."

Mindfulness is the practice of being present, aware, and awake. It is not just a state of mind but a way of being. Mindfulness defies definition; it is simply "being here now" in a particular way. While many definitions have been offered, mindfulness has to be experienced and to be understood.

This is a simple practice that can be done while walking, standing, or sitting. Pick an object nearby and look at it mindfully. Really see it. Notice its color, texture, shape, and dimensions. When you've really seen that object, let the focus of your attention shift to something else nearby. Then do the same thing with that object: look at it mindfully and then let go of it mentally.

Tune in again to the first object, then shift your focus to yet another object. After you've done this for a minute or so, repeat the process with an object that's farther away from you.

In other words, gradually increase the distance between yourself and each successive object. Your ability to stay focused on each object will improve with practice, as will your ability to maintain concentration for longer periods of time.

TIP: As you look from one object to another, don't worry about where you're going; just enjoy the journey!

Mindfulness goes beyond relaxation or concentration; it is awareness without judgment or control. It is the ability to be aware of what we are doing, thinking, and feeling at any moment in time. We can be mindful while walking on the street, drinking our morning coffee, or listening to music. Being mindful does not mean that our minds are blank; it means that we are awake, attentive, and aware.

Mindfulness involves having an open and accepting attitude towards oneself and one's experience in the present moment. This openness includes having no expectations about yourself or your experience and no demands that you be different from what you actually are at that very moment.

To cultivate mindfulness just means to pay attention, to be aware of what is happening both within us and around us in this very moment. When we are mindful, we are no longer lost in our thoughts about the past or future. We are not judging or evaluating. We are simply being aware.

Mindfulness allows us to see things clearly without filters or preconceptions. It is a way to experience the world directly and honestly, without distortion. It can help clarify our emotions and our lives, enabling us to make wiser choices in every moment.

One of the most important things we can do for ourselves is to cultivate mindfulness, the ability to notice and to be present with our own life, with our own experience.

Mindfulness is not so much a thing as it is a way of seeing and being in the world. It's often described as the art of paying attention, but it's more than that. It's a way of seeing things clearly and compassionately rather than through the veil of our thoughts and feelings.

Mindfulness is sometimes called "the heart" or "the spirit" in Buddhism because it's essentially about being awake – awake in the present moment without getting lost in thought or caught up in the emotion; about knowing what we're doing and why we're doing it; about having respect for ourselves and others.

This kind of present-moment awareness helps us live wisely, happily, compassionately, and well.

We love you dearly.

We are here with you.

We are your family of light.

A'HO

Aurora Ray

Ambassador of the Galactic Federation

Copyright 2021 Aurora Ray. All rights reserved.