How to focus on thoughts moment to moment in Mindfulness?
Thoughts is a very natural creation of human Mind that every human being is experiencing from the moment of birth. It is also natural that some people experience more thoughts & some people experience les thoughts. In fact, quantity of thoughts usually vary individual to individual. This is completely depend of the Mind which naturally works its own way. As being a natural creation, human Mind always functions naturally. In most of the time, we are almost not aware of most of thoughts from the unlimited thoughts that the Mind cerates every moment. If the Mind is in Mindfulness, the Mind is always aware of thoughts & focus of thoughts them moment to moment. But, how to focus on thoughts in moment to moment in Mindfulness?
This Article has emphasized in detail how to focus on thoughts moment to moment in Mindfulness. Lets have a look about thoughts & Mindfulness that can help you to understand in depth.
What is thoughts?:
Our common understanding is the thoughts are the natural creation of the Mind. Thoughts arise in the Mind and disappear in the Mind. Whether we are aware of not aware of thoughts, thoughts always continue to arise in the Mind. Let’s examine what Wikipedia says about thoughts?
According to Wikipedia, the term thought or thinking refers to cognitive processes that can happen independently of sensory stimulation. Their most paradigmatic forms are judging, reasoning, concept formation, problem-solving, and deliberation. But other mental processes, like considering an idea, memory, or imagination, are also included. These processes can happen internally independent of sensory organs, unlike perception. But, when understood in the widest sense, any mental event may be understood as a form of thinking. Including perception and unconscious mental processes. In a slightly different sense, the term thought refers not to the mental processes themselves but to mental states or system of ideas brought about by these processes.
In simple way, it is the Mind who always creates thoughts and such thoughts also disappear in the Mind too. Being a natural creation, the Mind always acts or functions naturally & thoughts are also the natural creation of the Mind that every human being is experiencing in life. No matter a human being like or not, the Mind keep continues to creates thoughts its own way. This is the reality.
What is Mindfulness at a glance?:
Mindfulness is the natural ability of the Mind to bring back its Attention to the Present Moment. Of course, the Mind has also the ability to be aware of the Mind itself and its movement of the Mind. What Wikipedia say about Mindfulness?
According to Wikipedia. Mindfulness is the practice of purposely bringing one’s attention to 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.
In light of above definition given by Wikipedia, it is indicating that Mindfulness can achieve through Meditation or some other form of training to cultivate or develop such abilities of the Mind. Even it takes a lot of efforts, time & patience, yet, it is possible for the Mind to be in Mindfulness.
Thoughts arise in the Present Moment:
Whatever the Mind experience, everything happens right at the moment. Even thoughts experience by the Mind that creates by te Mind right at the Moment & the same Mind also experience the same. No matter whether the Mind is experience thoughts of that related to to the past or in the future, that are also happening right at the moment.
I fact, no rights arise in the past or in the future. Whatever happens, that happens right at the moment. If any thought has arisen in the past, that thoughts was also the present moment of that past. In case, any thought that might arise in the future in the Mind, of course, that would be the present moment of that future.Mind to be right at the moment
Hence, let the Mind to keep focus of thoughts that are arising right at the moment.
Let the Mind be aware of thoughts right at the moment:
Let the Mind be aware of thoughts that are arising right now in the Mind. If thoughts are moving, be aware that thoughts are moving. If thoughts are disappearing, let the Mind aware that thoughts are disappearing. In fat, everything happens moment to moment & also the Mind is being aware moment to moment. One moment thoughts are arising that the Mind is aware, next moment the Mind is getting aware that thoughts are disappearing. That means, moment to moment aware of thoughts that the Mind is being aware right at the moment.
It is not surprise at all that suddenly, the Mind might wander to the past or in the future. Suh wandering of the Mind obviously starts with thoughts. Let the Mind act or functions its own way. Only be aware that the Mind is wandering either in the past or in the future. in fact, such wandering stage of the Mind is happening right at the moment. Even the Mind might be in the past or in the future or even in the present, no matter whether the Mind is here or there, in fact, this is happening right at the moment. So, let the Mind be aware wherever it is right now.
If thoughts arise that related to the past, only be aware that such thoughts are related to the past. If any thoughts arise in related to the future, let the Mind be aware that such thoughts are related to the future. Only be aware, but, not to judge. This is moment to moment awareness of thoughts no matter of of thoughts are arising or moving or disappearing. Whatever the Mind is experiencing or noticing, only be aware of that stage of thoughts movement from arising to disappearing.
Focus on thoughts right at the moment in Mindfulness:
Once the Mind is aware of thoughts that are arising, keep focus on thoughts. If thoughts are disappearing, let the Mind keep focus on thoughts that are disappearing. Suddenly, the Mind might shift from such focus point to another point. This is natural. In that case, keep the focus to the shifted point. Focus of the Mind might go to inside the Mind itself like emotions, anger, feelings, etc., or, might go to outside of the Mind like physical sensation or any other place like office, shopping centre or might old memories, etc., let it go naturally. Only be aware & keep focus there right at the moment.
Being aware of focus that is not over thoughts, bring back the focus of the Mind gentl to keep focus over thoughts that are arising in the Mind or disappearing in the Mind. Only be aware & focus of thoughts right at the moment. No matter wherever the focus go or move, be aware & follow. Once aware that focus is not over thoughts, bring back gently again & again. Naturally, the Mind get used to such new behavior of keep continue to focus over thoughts.
Observe thoughts without any judgement in Mindfulness:
It is moment to moment experience. The Mind is changing, The Matter is changing. In fact, everything is changing moment to moment. This is the core nature of creation that is changing the Mind & the Matter too.
In such case. awareness, focus, observation, attention, etc., all are also changing moment to moment. Let the Mind be in the natural state of such changing phenomena. Being aware of thoughts that are also changing, let the Mind keep continue to focus of such changing thoughts & observe thoughts moment to moment without any judgement.
If thoughts are arising, that means, such thoughts are not remaining as still in the continuous chain of change. Thoughts are arising, moving & disappearing. Whatever the the Mind is aware right at the moment no matter or arising of thoughts or moving of thoughts or disappearing of thoughts, only to let the Mind be aware & keep focus on such changing state by being aware & observe the same without any judgement.
Why no Jdgmentment of thoughts in Mindfulness?:
The question always arise, why no judgment? Any logic behind for no judgement?
There is a simple logic which is very stright forward.
Whatever the Mind is creating like thoughts, feelings, emotions, stress, depression, etc., all are the creations of the Mind. Even, what a human being is experiencing moment to moment, all are the creations of the Mind. In such case, the Mind is also acting to be aware of them, focusing them & also observing them. If the Mind also dies judgment, that means, the Creator is judging its own creation. such judgment is totally depend on the state of the Mind. Result of judgment always depends of the favor or disfavor, likes or dislikes of the Mind. No neutrality of judgment can take place in that case.
Furthermore, if judgement takes place over thoughts, the real or true nature of thoughts never remain as original. It appears as altered or imitated. Original attributes never remain same.
If the Mind do judgement over thoughts, in that case, the Mind get engage actively in judgement & not able to keep continue to be aware, focus & observe thoughts and also any kinds of mental activities like feelings, emotions, etc., as the Mind is completely get engage in judgement.
What happens to thoughts while no Judgement made by the Mind in Mindfulness?:
As no judgement made over thoughts, the Mind completely remain as an Observer. The Mind only observe thoughts by being aware of thoughts & keep focusing of such thoughts moment to moment. Keeping focus of thoughts that are arising or moving or disappearing, the Mind can understand that thoughts arise in the Mind 7 disappear also in the Mind as being a natural creation of the Mind. Such thoughts are inherently powerless unless the Mind judge them.
Thoughts only get active when the Mind get engage with them. Thoughts get the power of the Mind when the Mind actively engage with them. In fact, thoughts push the Mind to act on them Mind engage with them by doing judgement. If no judgement is there, thoughts remain as powerless & they disappear once they arise.
Bring back Focus right at the Present Moment to Focus on thoughts in Mindfulness:
The Mind has tendency to move here & there. Sometimes the Mind is in the Past or sometimes in the Future. SOmetimes, the Mind is here & sometimes the Mind is there. Wherever the Mind moves or goes, Focus also of the Mind also moves or goes. That means, Focus never remain still in a certain place.
The fact is that the Mind is a natural creation & it always functions naturally. No external force can insist or resist the Mind to keep remain in stillness. Hence, let the Mind to its own natural way.
Only be aware of thoughts & keep focus on thoughts. Once aware that focus is not right at the moment, gently bring back focus right at the moment and keep focus on thoughts. If the Mind is aware that thoughts are arising right at the moment, keep focus there. If thoughts are disappearing, be aware & keep focus that are disappearing.
It is like that moment to moment change & moment to moment keep focus on thoughts by being aware of focus & thoughts. Of course, it is a repetitive process. Be in patience & keep continue again & again so that the Mind naturally get used to be aware of focus, thoughts, observation.
Don’t force the Mind to bring back Focus right at the Present Moment:
The Mind is a natural creation. Obviously, the Mind acts or functions naturally. No external force can stop of the Mind. Forcing or insisting the Mind to bring back Focus right at the Present Moment is nothing but creating the distractions in the Mind. The Mind might back its Focus for a short while. But, it never remain in Focus and again back to its onw natural movement. In fact, there is a natural momentum or rhythm in the Mind like all other natural creation.
Forcing might also lead the Mind get wild. In such situation, the Mind might try to find out possible reasons for such sudden breakage of natural momentum. In that case, the Mind might express such possible reasons by creating more thoughts & subsequently, the Mind might have put itself in the trap of thoughts.
Hence, let the Mind do functions or acts naturally. Being aware of Focus that is not right at the Present Moment over thoughts to observe, gently bring back. Of course, this is no surprise at all that Focus might move again & again. This is very natural. Bring back the Focus once being aware that Focus is not over thoughts right at the moment. That’s all.
Keeping back & forth of brining back Focus over thoughts, the Mind naturally be used to such new behavior or activities. Slowly & gradually, the Mind become more aware of such behavior & keep more sustainable ocus over thoughts that is being in observance.
Conclusion:
The Mind is a natural creation that works naturally. Forcing or insisting over the Mind never sustain to keep the Focus of the Mind right in the present Moment. Hence, let the Mind always be in its own natural momentum.
Being aware of Focus & thoughts, let the Mind to keep continue to Focus over thoughts that to be observed right at the moment without any judgement. Of course, this natural that focus might shifts moment to moment. Only be aware and gently bring back Focus over thoughts that are arising, moving & disappearing & keep continue to observe without any judgement i Mindfulness.