How to be aware of Attention in Mindfulness?
This is no surprise at all that suddenly the Attention of the Mind might move from the specific point to some other place or area, or the Mind is moving either in the past or in the future. It is like that while reading a book or watching a movie or working in the office, suddenly notice that attention is not on the particular point where it supposes to be. This is very common experience for almost everyone i the life. Of course, after sometimes later, such wandering Mind bring back its attention naturally. Is it natural? Is there any way to be aware of Attention? How to be aware of Attention in Mindfulness?
All these questions are very interrelated. This Article has explained in detail how to be aware of Attention in Mindfulness that can help you to get a clear understanding.
Before going in details, let’s have a look about Attention & Mindfulness in brief, that can help to have deep understanding of the topic.
What is Attention in brief?:
According to the Wikipedia Attention. Attention is the behavioral and cognitive process of selectively concentrating on a discrete aspect of information, whether consider subjective or objective, while ignoring other perceivable information. William James (1890) wrote that “attention is the taking possession of the Mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thoughts. Focalization, concentration, of consciousness are of its essence.” attention has also been described as the allocation of limited cognitive processing of resources.
It is like that if no Attention is there, that means the Mind is not there at all. In that cases, the Mind is absolutely not aware of such particular purpose or topic or subject or situation or, in fact, anything the Mind is not at that moment where the attention needed to take place. Such situation is not uncommon. Everyone usually experiences as the Mind works or moves its own way.
What is Mindfulness?:
Mindfulness sis the ability of the Mind to be remaining in the Present Moment or to bring back its attention in the Present Moment when the Mind itself is aware that attention is not in the Present Moment. . According to Wikipedia. Mindfulness is the practice of purposely bringing one’s attention in the present moment without evaluation, a skill one develops through meditation or through other training. Mindfulness drives from Sati, a significant element of Buddhist tradition.
As stated above about Mindfulness, it is clearly indicating that Mindfulness can develop through Meditation or some other form of training which are related to the Mind, so that the Mind can cultivate or develop such ability to bring back its Attention to the Present Moment purposely. In reality, it takes patience, efforts & time to cultivate such abilities in the Mind. If someone is willing to do so, of course, it is possible based on my experience.
Lets move how to be aware of Attention in Mindfulness in detail.
Mindfulness is Right at the Moment:
No matter what a human being is experiencing either physically or mentally, everything is happening right at the moment. Even the Present Moment is also a collection of immediate Moments, yet, the Mind is experiencing everything in moment to moment.
As the Mind is experiencing everything in the Present Moment, in such case, Mindfulness is also right at this moment. Mindfulness is not in the Past or in the Future. That means, the Mind is also in the Present Moment where it can bring back its Attention also at the Present Moment. So, both the Attention of the Mind & also Mindfulness are at this Present Moment.
The Mind always remain natural in Mindfulness:
In Mindfulness, the Mind always remain natural and whatever activities like creations of thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc., movement, wnadering, Awarness, Attention, etc., all happens or occurs naturally. The Mind always in a natural momentum.
In the natural activities of the Mind, Attention also impales naturally. Of course, this is also natural that Attention might move to the Past or in the Future at any moment. Even Attention might also move o wandering in different places or areas as the Mind is in the natural momentum where all activities of the Mind happens naturally.
So, let the Mind be in natural momentum & let it do as usual naturally where everything flow in a natural rhythm.
Awareness arise in the Mind at the Present Moment in Mindfulness:
In fact, whatever the Mind experience or whatever the Mind creates, everything happens in the Present Moment. As a result, human being is experiencing everything in the Present Moment, not in the Past or not in the Future.
Awareness is also happening in the Mind in the Present Moment. The Mind always keep tracking of its activities or moving by being awareness. That means, Awareness is the most vital for the Mind to understand everything.
As Attention is also arising in the Present Moment, let the Mind be aware of such Attention that is arising in the Moment. In fact, the Mind experiencing everything at the moment to moment. In such situation, of course, Attention & Awareness both are also in the same arena that is they are also arising in the moment to moment. In Mindfulness, the Mind always remain aware of itself & aware of its movement. As a result, the Mind has the ability to be aware of awareness & also be aware of Attention that the Mind is experiencing or happening in the Mind itself in the Present Moment.
Let the Mind be aware of Attention in the Present Moment:
Everything happens right at the moment. Even the everything is changing moment to moment. The Mind as well its activities are also changing moment to moment. Nothing is static. Even the solid structure like the concrete wall, stone, building, etc., whatever it is in a material form, everything is changing which are not visible at al by the limited visibility of human eyes.
The reality also implies to Attention. attention is also changing or moving in moment to moment. Even Awarness is also changing like Attention. But, the Mind has the ability to be aware of Attention that are happening right at this moment. Of course, such Attention might move here & there, moving in the past or in the future, the Mind has the ability to be aware of such movement. Hence, let the Mind be aware of Attention i the Present Moment. No matter wherever Attention moves either in the Past or in the Future or in the Present, let the Mind be aware of Attention right at the Present Moment.
If Attention fo the Mind is in the Present Moment, let the Mind be aware of that Attention is in the Present Moment. If attention has moved to the Past, let the Mind be aware that Attention is in the Past right now. If Attention is wandering in the Future, let the Mind be aware that Attention is wandering the Future. It is like that wherever Attention is in the Present Moment, the Mind be aware of such existing state or position of Attention. In such case, the Awareness of the Mind to follow Attention wherever it moves or exists.
Observe Attention of the Mind without any Judgement in Mindfulness:
This is very natural that human Mind never remain still. It moves here & there. Sometimes in the Past or sometimes in the Future, the Mind always wander or move. Whenever the Mind moves, Attention also moves. Let it be as usual. Let the Mind & Attention remain as usual & let them move wherever the Mind des naturally.
Being in Mindfulneess, the Mind has natural ability to be aware of its movement & also aware of Attention. Let the Mind to be aware of Attention & observe such Attention without any judgdement. No matter whether Attention of the Mind is in the Present or in the Past or in the Future, let the Mind itself be aware of Attention & keep continue to observe or watch without any judgdment.
It is no surprise at all that suddenly, the Mind can bring back its Attention in the Present Moment where it was a while ago. After a while, Attention might move away from the Present Moment to the Past or to the Future. Moving here & there, moving in the Past or in the Future, the Mind again naturally back its Attention right to the Present Moment. In fact, this is a natural movement of Attention as being associated with the natural creation that is the Mind.
The Mind has the ability to bring back Attention in the Present Moment in Mindfulness:
As Mindfulness remains in the Mind, in that case the Mind has not only the ability of awarness f itself & its movement, the Mind has also the ability to bring back its Attention to the Present Moment. When the Mind is totally aware of its Attention by observing that Attention is not in the Present Moment, the Mind naturally bring back its Attention to the Present Moment. Of course, such Attention might be again shifts from the Present Moet, gently bring back such Attention by being aware of Attention.
The Mind does perform such activities of bringing back Attention again & again. It is like a repetitive activities. Here, the Mind always remain in awareness where Attention of the Mind is also under awareness and the Mind keep continue to observe or watch Attention without any judgement & e back with Attention in the Present Moment.
In fact, awareness always follow the Attention of the Mind no matter wherever Attention moves or goes. Awareness always follow Attention.
Let the Mind be in the Present Moment in Mindfulness by being aware of Attention:
No doubt at all that the Mind never remain in a certain place. Wandering or moving tendency is always in the Mind. This is absolutely natural as the Mind is a natural creation. Being a natural creation, this is also natural that the Mind always act naturally. No external force can stop such natural movement or activities of the Mind.
Observing such natural movement of the Mind, only be aware of Attention of the Mind wherever it moves or goes in the Present Moment. In fact, while the Mind is aware of Attention & observing such Attention without any judgement, all are happening moment to moment in the Present Moment. That means, the Mind itself is in the Present Moment where Attention is also in the Present Moment.
So, let the Mind be aware of attention & keep continue to observe or watch the Mind in Mindfulness right at this moment.
Conclusion:
Human Mind is a natural creation. As being a natural creation, obviously, the Mind always acts or moves naturally. No external force can stop such natural activities or movement. In fact, the Mind always in a natural momentum where its movement flows.
In Mindfulness, the Mind has the ability to be aware of itself as well aware of its movement. That means, the Mind is always in awareness moment to moment. As the Mind is a natural creation & move naturally, in that case, Attention also move or wander naturally as being a natural creation of the natural Mind. Being aware of Attention in the Present Moment, the Mind can also observe such Attention Moment to Moment & can bring back its Attention in the Present Moment while the Mind become aware that attention is not in the Present Moment.
Hence, let the Mind be aware of Attention by itself & keep continue to be aware of attention wherever such Attention remain in the Present Moment being in Mindfulness.