Why thoughts can not create distractions in the Mind in Mindfulness?
Distractions of thoughts is very common for all human being. Being a human being, no one is totally free from thoughts as huge amount of thoughts are being created by the Mind every moments. Distractions of thoughts arise in the Mind when the Mind put itself in the trap of thoughts. If the Mindfulness remain in the Mind, the Mind can easily be avoided distractions of thoughts, Why thoughts can ot create distractions in the Mind in Mindfulness?
This Article can help you to understand in detail. Lets have some basic understanding about Mind, thoughts & Mindfulness before going into detail that can help you to have deep understanding why thoughts can not distract the Mind in Mindfulness.
What is Mind?:
According to Wikipedia, The Mind is often understood as a faculty that manifest itself. in mental phenomena like sensation, perception, thinking, reasoning, memory, belief, desire, emotion and motivation. Mind or mentally usually constricted with body, matter or physicality. Central to this contrast is the intuition that mind exhibits various features not found in and may be incompatible with the materiel universe as described by the natural sciences. On the traditionally dominant substantialist view associated with Rene’ Descartes, minds are defined as independent thinking substances. But it is more common in contemporary philosophy to conceive minds not as substances but as properties or capacities possessed by humans and higher animals.
What is thoughts?:
What Wikipedia stated. In their most common sense, the term thought and thinking refer to conscious cognitive processes that can happen independently or sensory simulation. 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 often included. These processes can happen internally independent of the sensory organs unlike perception. But when understood in the widest sense, and mental event may be understood as as a form of thinking, including perception and unconscious mental processes. In a slightly different sense, the term thought refer not to the mental processes themselves but to mental states or systems of ideas brought about by the processes.
What is distraction?:
As stated in Wikipedia, Distraction is the process of diverting the attention of an individual or group from a desired area of focus and thereby blocking or diminishing the reception of desired information. Distraction is caused by: the lack of ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention. Distraction come from both external sources, and internal sources. External distractions include factors such as visual triggers, social interactions, music, text messages, and phone calls. There are also internal distractions such as hunger, fatigue, illness, worrying, and day dreaming. Both external and internal distractions contribute to the interference of focus.
Mindfulness meaning:
Mindfulness is the ability of the Mind to bring its Attention in the Present Moment porously. In fact, this is the ability of the Mind by being aware of itself right at the Present Moment.
An individual can cultivate or develop Mindfulness in the Mind by going through Meditation or some kind of training that can enrich the ability of the Mind to be aware moment to moment & also the ability to develop to bring back Attention in the Present Moment.
Mindfulness is always Mind Centric:
In Mindfulness, the Mind is always Mind centric. Even though the Mind can go outside of the Mind, yet, the Mind is always very concern about the Mind itself. No matter what is happening inside the Mind or outside the Mind, everything process by the Mind & bring it to the human being for understanding.
What is happening or occuring based on moment to moment experience in the Mind, the Mind is always pay attention to itself & activities of the Mind in every moment no matter experience is being both inside the Mind as well as outside the Mind in the physical world.
As the Mind is being inside toward that is the Mind centric itself, the Mind is absolutely aware of thoughts what is arising or moving or disappearing right in the moment. Hence, thoughts can not distract the Mind in Mindfulness.
The Mind is totally aware of what is hapening right now in the Mind in Mindfulness:
the Mind is always aware of what is happening right now in the Mind being in Mindfulness. It means that the Mind is fully aware of its own creation and also the Mind by itself. In fact, everything happens in this universe moment to moment. The Mind also experience everything moment to moment. No static at all.
If thoughts are arising, the Mind is totally aware that thoughts are arising. If thoughts are moving, the Mind is aware that thoughts are moving. If thoughts are disappearing, the Mind is also aware that thoughts are disappearing. Everything happens moment to moment & the Mind is also aware of everything in moment to moment.
This is not like at all that the Mind is only aware of thoughts at all. No matter of thoughts or feelings or emotions, stress, or whatever it is happening right at the moment in the Mind, the Mind is aware of that. Of course, the most noticeable concern usually happens in the Mind is thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc. Based on experience, mostly thoughts are very concern which is most dominating & noticeable in the Mind as it happens every moment.
As the Mind is totally aware of thoughts, the Mind is always aware of any kinds of distractions that might cause by thoughts. Hence, thoughts can not create distraction in the Mindin Mindfulness.
The Mind observe thoughts without any judgement in Mindfulness:
As the Mind is aware of thoughts that are arising right at the moment, the Mind observe thoughts with total attention & don’t judge any thoughts. Only be aware of thoughts & observe without any judgement. If the Mind become aware of thoughts that are arising or moving or disappearing, whatever it is, the Mind only keep continue to observe them & keep itself away from any judgement.
Of course, Attention of the Mind might shift from such thoughts to anywhere else. In such case, the Mind might wander in the Past or in the Future or even in the Present, but, not over the thoughts that are arising or moving or disappearing. This is very natural as the Mind has such tendency to wander or move. But, the Mind is also aware that Attention of the Mind is not there over thoughts. Wherever the Mind moves, the Mind is absolutely aware of its existing state.
But, the Mind has such unique ability to bring back its Attention when the Mind become aware that Attention is not there to observe thoughts. In such case, being aware of the present state of Attention, the Mind again bring back its Attention right at the moment to observe thoughts. But, the Mind remain only in observation where no judgement is there.
As the Mind is not doing any judgement of thoughts, thoughts naturally disappear once they arise. Thoughts can’t inspire the Mind to get engage with them. As the Mind is not engage with thoughts due to not doing any judgement, thoughts can’t get the Mind in the trap of thoughts. Thoughts has no option in such situation, rather to disappear in the Mind after a moment from here such thoughts become born.
Hence, thoughts become absolutely inactive & they can’t create any distraction in the Mind at all. They arise & they disappear as an inactive creation of the Mind.
Living in the Present Moment has the ability of the Mind in Mindfulness:
Being in Mindfulness, the Mind has the natural ability to live in the Present Moment. It means that the Mind is totally aware of the Present Moment no matter whether the Mind keep Focus or Attention to itself & its own creations that is what is happening right at the moment, but also has the ability to be aware of itself wherever Attention moves. If Attention is in the Mind itself or outside of the Mind, the Mind is absolutely aware of the existing state.
As the Mind is aware of right at the moment, if the Mind is wandering outside of the Mind or wandering in the Past or in the Future or in the Present but not in the Mind itself to observe thoughts or what is happening right at the moment, the Mind can bring back its Attention by being aware that such Attention is not there to observe the Mind & thoughts.
Bring back Attention to observe thoughts without any judgement, the Mind totally pay its Attention there but no judgements & no engagement takes place. As a result, thoughts can’t put the Mind in their trap. Thoughts remain as thoughts & thoughts can not create distraction in the Mind in Mindfulness as the Mind is totally in aware of thoughts & observe them without any judgement are there.
The Mind can uncover the true nature of thoughts in Mindfulness:
Being moment to moment aware of thoughts as well observe such thoughts without any judgement, the Mind can uncover the true or real nature of thoughts. The Mind can realize that thoughts are the creation of the Mind & such thoughts also disappear in the Mind. Thoughts arise in the Mind, move in the Mind, and also disappear in the Mind.
All thoughts are momentary. Thoughts has no inherent power at all. Thoughts only get active when the Mind judge them where the Mind actively get engage with thoughts. If the Mind do judgement & get engage with thoughts, then, thoughts get active & utilize the Mind to create distractions. In such situation, the Mind itself get into the trap of thoughts where thoughts play around by utilizing the power of the Mind & create trap for the Mind.
As the Mind can uncover the true or real nature of thoughts those are the creation of the Mind with momentary nature & no inherent power at all, the Mind always be aware from the trap of thoughts & only observe thoughts by being aware of thoughts right at the moment. Realizing the true or real nature, the Mind always remain away from thoughts as no judgement is there in observation, thoughts can not create distraction in the Mind in Mindfulness. Thoughts arise in the Mind & disappear after a while naturally.
Conclusion:
Being aware of thoughts moment to moment, the Mind observe thoughts without any judgement. As no judgement made over thoughts by the Mind in Mindfulness, the Mind is absolutely free from any engagement with thoughts. The Mind only act as an Observer where no engagement & no judgement are there over thoughts.
Observing thoughts by being aware of them moment to moment, the Mind can understand that thoughts are the natural creation of the Mind & such thoughts also disappear in the Mind after a while of arising. If the Mind not do any judgement, thoughts can’t get active & engage with the Mind at all. Being a natural creation of such thoughts, they naturally disappear from where they were created or originated. As a result, thoughts are momentary & inherently powerless by nature.
As the Mind is aware of thoughts & not engage or attach to thoughts by remaining as an non-judgemental observer, thoughts can’t distract the Mind in Mindfulness.
These are the reasons, why thoughts can not create distractions in the Mind in Mindfulness.