The process of “thinking” takes us out of the moment. We get caught up in the false reality of our own thoughts. Have you ever seriously “looked” at your own thoughts? It’s nothing but mindless chatter. Buddhists aren’t kidding about life being an illusion.
Mindfulness incorporates the paradox of no-mind. “When you eat, just eat,” Buddhist teachers advise. “When you sit, just sit.” In a similar vein, “when having sex, just have sex.” Tantric sex is basically mindful sex, fully-engaged and in the moment.
Fine, but what about life’s many unpleasant moments? Who, for instance, wants to be mindful of a toothache? True, Buddhists teachers acknowledge. But consider the “non-toothache.” Non-toothaches are very pleasant experiences. Are you enjoying your non-toothache right now, or are you too busy thinking about what your boss may or may not say to you two days from now?
The practical benefit of mindfulness is that as our awareness becomes more heightened and our thinking more focused, we slowly acquire the ability to reel in our runaway thoughts, or at least slow them down a tad. Slowly, we gain skills in negotiating our way through the present. Slowly, we learn to manage our illness rather than having our illness manage us.
Successfully living in the here and now allows us to come to terms with our past and to anticipate the future with hope. The tigers will always be lurking at the bottom of the cliff. Enjoy the strawberries, and live well.
