Although it is not possible to precisely define the place and time of the birth of mindfulness, it is likely that it originates from Buddhism, which places awareness at the center of its meditative practice. Mindfulness is in fact the English translation of the word “sati”, which in the liturgical language of Buddhism, Pāli, means – precisely – “mental presence”, therefore “awareness”.
Meditative practices arise mainly as techniques to reach enlightenment, but the first to approach mindfulness in a clinical way was the American biologist and writer Jon Kabat-Zinn, who defined it as “the process of paying attention in a particular way: intentionally, in a non-judgmental manner, to the flow of experience in the present”.
According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness can be cultivated through an approach based on these 7 principles:
Non-Judgment
To practice “non-judgment” one must first become aware of the fact that we judge continuously and automatically ourselves and others. How can we free ourselves from this automatism? By observing everything impartially, that is, without “labeling” things, people and attitudes.
Patience
Patience is the art of understanding and accepting that things happen when it is time. We must imagine a butterfly that knows how to emerge from the chrysalis according to its own timing. Forcing the process would not help, right? Well, in the same way we must be patient with ourselves, with our body and our mind.
Beginner’s Mind
The “beginner’s mind” indicates the ability to observe the reality around us as if we were seeing it for the first time and without being trapped in our habits. You can try it in everyday life: the next time you meet someone familiar to you, ask yourself if you are observing them for what they really are or if you are observing the reflection of your opinions about them.
Trust
“Trust” is trusting one’s intuition and deep feelings as a guide for one’s choices. It also means not assuming an attitude of inferiority towards others whom we consider “better than us”. One should not aspire to become like another, but to become more fully ourselves.
Non-Striving
This pillar in meditative practice refers to not wanting to seek immediate results at all costs (e.g., I meditate so I will feel more relaxed), but to focus only on the action. In essence: to have results, don’t seek results!
Acceptance
Accepting oneself is not surrendering, but being able to appreciate ourselves even when we are not or are not yet as we would like to be. So it is not being passive towards life, but being loving towards one’s own person: love and respect for ourselves must never depend on achieving a result.
Letting Go
Letting go of thoughts, memories, resentment and grudges. Freeing ourselves from everything that chains us. It is not always easy and meditative practice or anything else aimed at an “inner cleansing” (prayer, sessions with a professional, reading, etc.) can be very useful. We don’t always free ourselves immediately, but, if we persevere, it happens…
I leave you with a poem by Jon Kabat-Zinn, which can help you find the deeper meaning of mindfulness.
Have you ever had the experience of stopping so completely,
of being so totally in your body,
of being so totally in your life
that what you already knew and what you didn’t know,
and what has been and what is yet to be,
and the way things are right now
don’t give you even a thread of anxiety or disagreement?
It would be a moment of total presence,
beyond struggle, beyond mere acceptance,
beyond the desire to escape or fix things or dive in headfirst:
a moment of pure being, outside of time,
a moment of pure seeing, pure perception,
a moment in which life simply is,
and that “being” takes you, grabs you with all the senses,
all the memories, down to the genes,
in what you love most,
and tells you: welcome home.
♥
“Mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives”
Jon Kabat-Zinn
