Why you should always be aware of thoughts in Mindfulness?
Being a human being, no is totally free from thoughts. Thoughts are in the Mind and also disappear in the Mind too. This is very common for all human being. It is a natural creation of human body and the Mind, naturally designed to act so. Yet, continuous thoughts sometimes can create distraction itself in the Mind too. In fact, almost no one is aware of thoughts as treating that thoughts are obviously a common natural activity of human being. But, in Mindfulness, thoughts are always under awareness. This is very surprising. So, why you should always be aware of thoughts in Mindfulness? Are there any reasons to be aware of thoughts? How to be aware of thoughts?
In fact, all the questions are interrelated. This Article will explain you in detail why should you be aware of thoughts in Mindfulness? Let’s have some basic understanding of Thoughts, Awareness & Mindfulness first which can help you to get more depth of understanding.
What is thought?:
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.
Based on description given by Wikipedia about thoughts, it is understandable that thoughts is an idea or opinion produced by thinking or occurring or arising suddenly in human Mind. No matter consciously or unconsciously, thoughts always arise in the Mind as a natural creation of the Mind. Thoughts is a natural activity of human Mind and all human beings are not out of thoughts.
What is Awareness?
As stated on Wikipedia, Awareness is the state of conscious of something. More specifically, it is the ability to know and perceive, to feel, or to be cognizant of events. Another definition describes it is a state wherein a subject is aware of some information when that information is directly available to bring to bear in the direction of a wide range of behavioral actions. The concept is often synonymous to consciousness and is also understood as being consciousness itself.
The state of awareness are also associated with the states of experience so that the structure represented in awareness is mirrored in the structure of experience.
What is Mindfulness?:
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.
Based on above definition as stated on Wikipedia, it is clearly indicating that Mindfulness develops or cultivated through Meditation or some other training related to the Mind. That means Mindfulness is the ability of the Mind which can develop through Meditation or some other form of training. In fact, Mindfulness is the ability of the Mind to be in the Present Moment purposely by being aware of the existing position of the Mind.
Mindfulness is totally Mind Centric:
Mindfulness is totally Mind centric. The Mind creates the world in front you by experience physically & mentally at this Present Moment. No matter what you see or what you hear or what you think, etc., each & everything goes to the Mind or Brain through the nervous system. The Mind does process everything & creates imagoes of such thing for your understanding. In fact, the Mind is the center point of processing or creating everything to present in front of you to understand, feel, see, observe, etc. Otherwise, you can’t understand anything at all.
As everything comes from the central nervous system of the Mind, the world appears to you. No matter of thoughts or feelings, understanding, etc., everything are occurring in the Mind. If the Mind is not aware of itself, the Mind can’t observe its own movement or activities at all. As a result, the key focus of Mindfulness is to the Mind centric.
Thoughts arise in the Mind hence the Mind has to be aware of thoughts in Mindfulness:
Thoughts rise in the Mind. In fact, thoughts are the creation of the Mind. If the Mind is not aware of thoughts at all, the Mind can’t be aware of itself. Without being aware of thoughts, the Mind can’t be Mind centric at all, as Mindfulness is totally Mind centric.
Being aware of thoughts, the Mind is totally aware of itself that thoughts are arising in the Mind, thoughts are moving in the Mind and also aware that thoughts are disappearing in the Mind. If the Mind is not aware of all thoughts, the Mind can’t understand at all that thoughts are arising in the Mind and also disappearing in the Mind too. In that case, the Mind understand its own creation that are thoughts.
Thoughts can only be able to observe when the Mind is aware of thoughts that can understand in Mindfulness:
It is totally impossible for the Mind to observe thoughts without any judgement when the Mind is totally aware of thoughts from arising in the Mind to disappearing in the Mind as well. If no awareness is there, the Mind can get lost in the track of thoughts. In such case, the Mind can’t be able to observe thoughts to understand the real or true nature of thoughts.
Thoughts are arising in the Present Moment, not in the Past or not in the future. As the Mind has the ability of awareness being in Mindfulness, the Mind is always aware at this Present Moment what is happening. It is like arising thoughts, disappearing thoughts, feelings arising, anxiety arising, emotions arising, so on. All these thoughts no matter of feelings, emotions, anxiety, etc., all are expressing by the Mind through thoughts.
So, in Mindfulness, the Mind must be aware of thoughts. in that case, keep your full attention to let your Mind be aware of thoughts and such awareness lead you to observe thoughts without any judgement. If no awareness is there of thoughts, it is not possible at all to observe thoughts without any judgement. In fact, the Mind can be able to observe thoughts and also total movement of thoughts when the Mind is totally aware of thoughts.
True nature of thoughts only be able to uncover by the Mind when the Mind is aware of thoughts in Mindfulness:
The key focus of Mindfulness is to understand the true or real nature of Mind & the matter. As thoughts are the natural creation of the Mind, the Mind must be aware of thoughts to observe them without any judgement. If no awareness of thoughts, the Mind cant observe thoughts at all. In such case, the Mind can be able to uncover the true or real nature of thoughts.
Being aware of thoughts as well as being aware of total movement of thoughts, the Mind observes thoughts without any judgement. As a result, the Mind can uncover the true or real nature of thoughts. The Mind can understand that thoughts arise in the Mind, and they’re disappearing in the Mind after a while of arising. In this case, the Mind can understand that thoughts are its own creation and the ceases in the Mind too, apart from the momentary nature of thoughts.
The Mind can also understand that thoughts have no inherent power at all unless they are judged by the Mind. They only arise, move & disappear. If the Mind judge them, they become active, get the Mind attached to them so that they utilize the power of the Mind. If no judgement, in such case, no active engagement of the Mind with thoughts. Hence, thoughts have to naturally disappear in the Mind once they arise.
Wandering Mind can be back at the Present Moment without aware of thoughts by observing in Mindfulness:
It is a natural tendency of the Mind to keep continue to wander from here to there, present to the past, present to the future. In fact, the Mind is designed to act like that naturally. No way to stop such wander. The best can do to bring back to the Present Moment by being aware of the Mind & observe the Mind too. In fact, Mind wandering is very natural as being a natural creation of human body.
As the Mind always keep continue to generate thoughts & keep continue to wander, if not aware of thoughts, no observation can be able to done by the Mind. If no observation of the Mind by itself is there, it is impossible to bring back the Mind in the Present Moment. Hence, the Mind must be aware of thoughts & also the total movement of thoughts, then, the Mind become aware of its own existing position so that the Mind be aware that it is not in the Present Moment. Then, the Mind can bring back its awareness in the Present Moment by being aware of itself & aware f thoughts.
Hence, you always need to be aware of thoughts & total movement of thoughts in Mindfulness. So that you can bring back your Mind in the Present Moment by being aware of thoughts & the Mind itself with moment to moment awareness of thoughts as well observation of thoughts without any judgement.
Conclusion:
Not being aware of thoughts, it is absolutely impossible for the Mind to observe thoughts & also the total movement of thoughts without any judgement. True or real nature can only be able to uncover when the Mind is aware of thoughts from arising to disappearing by observing them without any judgement. If no awareness is there, no observation can take place also. In that case, it is absolutely impossible to bring back the Mind to the Present Moment naturally.
Hence, in Mindfulness, your Mind must be aware of thoughts from arising to disappearing to understand the true nature of thoughts by observing them without any judgement and can bring back the attention of the Mind at this Present Moment by being aware of the movement of the wandering Mind.