Human Development
Practice of presence of mindfulness
Description:
This path of observational analysis is compared with (and opposed to) that of following enstatic practices. The ultimate aim is attainment of final deliverance from suffering. The method implies: direct confrontation with actuality; merging of everyday life with meditative practice; transcending conceptual thought by direct observation and introspection; emphasis on the here and now. The presence of mindfulness is cultivated through four foundations: body contemplation on the body; feeling contemplation on feelings; mind contemplation on mind; mind object contemplation on mind objects. This is made possible through giving up: fondness for activity (busy-ness), talking, sleeping and company; lack of sense control; immoderate eating. The middle teaching of dependent origination transcends all concepts of monism, pluralism and dualism. Once the disciple has received information on the way and the goal he has two rules for successful spiritual practice - begin and continue (endure). Eventually life should become one with the spiritual practice and practice become full-blooded life. The little things of life become teachers of great wisdom, gradually revealing their own immense dimension of depth.