Mindfulness is the rope or glue that connects our mind and attention to the chosen object of meditation and sustains that connection over time, keeping the object in awareness. Unique to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition is mindfulness how mindfulness relates to the development of both concentration and of wisdom.

A variety of interpretations of mindfulness can be found these days in both secular and Buddhist contexts. Mindfulness is presented as non-judgmental present-moment awareness in secular mindfulness-based trainings, and mindfulness as attention to sensations and thoughts in insight meditation presented in various ways in the Theravada tradition. In the Mahayana tradition, Lama Tsong Khapa’s definition of mindfulness relates to both the development of concentration and of wisdom.

As beginners, an unfamiliar object can be held for only a short time before being interrupted by distraction. This is where most of us start the journey of developing mindfulness, concentration and wisdom. Therefore, we need not judge it harshly. Rather, by building on and strengthening such mindfulness through repeated engagement with the object, we will come to enjoy powerful mindfulness and its benefits.

Familiarity with the object is a key element of this definition of mindfulness. When we repeatedly attend to the object of meditation over a period of time, we build up many associations of different kinds of experience between our mind and the object of meditation, which forms the basis for enhancing mindfulness of the object.

By taking care to establish many associations of positive experiences with this object in our meditation, eventually our mindfulness will enable our mind to gladly engage with the object effortlessly, without distraction.

Presented by FPMT Geshe:

We welcome back Geshe Thubten Sherab IN-PERSON for the first time in four years! Geshe-la is fluent in English, and teaches with a clarity and wisdom that allows the teachings to ‘just slide in’ to our minds and settle well.

“For beginners in the Dharma, the most important thing is to try and integrate one’s study and practice.”

Geshe Thubten Sherab