Mindfulness - The Bottom Line

Episode 11, 19 January 2015, Mindfulness - The Bottom Line. [11:11] Intro: Welcome to Buddhism Guide’s Audio blog. A contemporary look at Gautama Buddha’s Teachings, from Karma Yeshe Rabgye. For more information, visit: http://www.buddhismguide.org You can find more episodes of this audio blog on iTunes and Stitcher Podcasts. A transcript of this episode is available at http://buddhismguide.org/audio-blog-archive/audio-blog-transcripts/episode-11-transcript-mindfulness-the-bottom-line Episode 11: Mindfulness - The Bottom Line. [00:45] 1. Mindfulness. Gautama Buddha stated in various Sutras that there are Four Foundations of Mindfulness: Mindfulness of body; Mindfulness of feelings; Mindfulness of mind; Mindfulness of mental states. 2. Mindfulness of Body. [02:45] This means being aware of your body and all the actions carried out by it. 3. Mindfulness of Feelings. [05:03] There are Three Types of Feelings: Pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral. 4. Mindfulness of Mind. [06:10] Mindfulness of Mind is looking at the mind as though you are looking in a mirror. Ask yourself, how is my mind at the moment? Is it full of desire, full of anger, full of ignorance? Is it present in the moment, or distracted? In a guide to the Bodhisattva way of life Shantideva says: Whenever I have the desire to move my body, or to say something, first of all, I should examine my mind, and then with steadiness, act in a proper way. 5. Mindfulness of Mental States. [07:55] When we begin to be mindful of mental states, we start to see obstacles arise in the form of the Five Hindrances. These hindrances are mental states that can lead us astray; take us away from responsible living. The Five Hindrances are: Being gripped by desire; Feelings of ill will; Lack of interest; Restlessness, and Doubt. 6. Right Mindfulness - The Bottom Line. [09:45] If we are going to be Mindful, and Live a Responsible Life we have to be fully aware of, but not tangled up in, our bodies, feelings, minds and mental states. By being mindful we'll be able to take full responsibility for all our actions. This will ensure that our minds become more calm and we travel through life in the present moment. Not being tossed backwards and forwards from the past to the future. Being mindful means being conscious of every thought, feeling, emotion, physical sensation, and action. So, the bottom line is, become aware of the present moment, but not engaged with it. Outro. [10:40] You can find more information about this subject in Karma Yeshe Rabgye’s books at http://www.buddhismguide.org/books/ The best way to catch a snake – A Practical Guide to the Buddha’s Teachings; Life’s meandering path – A Secular Approach to Gautama Buddha’s Guide to Living; Ripples in the stream – A Pragmatic Journey Through Gautama Buddha’s Teachings. They’re available now, from Amazon and Kindle. Thank you for listening, and I hope you enjoyed Buddhism Guide's audio blog. Until the next time, remember: "The only person we can ever truly know, is ourselves".