Mindfulness!

Mindfulness is a mental state which, if achieved, can be of great benefit to our overall wellbeing. Our wellbeing depends on the ecosystem comprising our mind, soul and body or health. Mind is the most crucial part connecting all three. The ability to control it can define our life in a true sense. Whereas, soul is the like the hidden treasure defining our true identity. But it remains unearthed, unrealised most of the time by majority of us. And the third one - the body or health - is the physical being - governed by the scientific laws of Physics and Chemistry. The body is just like a building structure requiring timely repair and maintenance for wear and tear. When all these 3 components of this ecosystem are in sync or tuned to one another we can feel good, happy, cheerful as if positive energy is radiated from this tuned ecosystem - factor of the " wellbeing"!

As I said, Mind plays the most critical role in contributing to this wellbeing. It's the most vulnerable component - both a friend and an enemy to other two components - Soul and Body. If Mind is not in control, it can send the Soul far away beyond our recognition and it can put the physical and chemical parts of the body in complete mess! Such powerful it is, indeed!

Mindfulness is a mental state - where the mind is in control - unfazed, unfettered - like a ripple less serene lake!

In mindful state we utilize our full mind in all current or present activities. Mind is not utilized for any past event or future nor any other things which our body or soul are not experiencing. No thoughts can enter our mind and perturb it. Whatever we are doing we apply our full mind or mental capacity into it. For example, if we are drinking tea - we enjoy fully in this activity for that time - sensing every nerve while sipping the tea; feeling every taste, flavour and enjoying all these feelings.

No matter how insignificant that activity or work is if we deploy our full mind to recognize every bit of sensory feeling, we rediscover how extraordinary that activity or work becomes. That discovery or realization creates a positive reinforcement in unison with our soul and body - making the system of physical matter and chemicals in our body better streamlined. This streamlining also helps keeping all the negative thoughts or concerns at bay like ironing out all the creases in our cloths.

This way it's possible to do multiple things in a day - but sequentially not parallel. One after other may be 5 or 10 mins each switching on and switching off our mind from one activity to another - but not switching it on for two activities at the same time slot. Give full 100% mind to one activity, complete it to whatever goal you define and then take your mind away from it and apply to another. Mind that - activity doesnt mean it has to be a work for which you get paid for. Just enjoying a sunset sitting on a chair for 5-10 mins can also be an activity. Only thing is whenever you are doing it, apply your 100% mind into it, make sure your mind is not distracted in any other thought.

Bhagavad Gita has also got this concept and technique mentioned in its verses. Below is the link to one article talking about this.

http://www.atlantadunia.com/dunia/Features/F242.htm