Mindfulness - the Real Thing or Just a Trend?

Today  people are distracted and walking around in mental fog more than ever before. What to do?

A recent article in the New York Times SundayStyles section was entitled "Mindfulness at Every Turn." The author points out that like yoga before it, mindfulness has reached the height in trendiness.

Of course, as a scholar in the field of mindfulness, mysticism and contemplative prayer, I understand why mindfulness sounds good, and could be good, but for the most part it is not the answer.

Don't get me wrong, mindfulness is a term I use a lot. The basic idea is to be in the present - not lost in daydreams or ruminating about the past, and not planning and scheming about the future. The place to be is in the present with awareness, mindfulness, and  living consciously.

I will let you in on a secret. I won't keep the truth from you. I will tell you what is missing from techniques and theories that are nice, somewhat helpful, and which do offer some relief.

What is missing is God. Most just leave Him out entirely. Others pay lip service or talk about the wrong god or a false god or false gods.

Still others make mention of the real God, but they only know how to talk about God and have not really experienced Him. They talk about God but don't know God.

There is nothing more awful to the sensitive seeking soul than to hear someone talk with hollow words devoid of understanding about holy things, only to reveal that they are a hypocrite. And then there are many people who, I am sorry to say, have only a pretend relationship with God. They are hypnotized into believing they are Christians and they worship a false Jesus held up by the Pharisees of today.

Many people have a fantasy relationship with Jesus like some people do with some movie star, entertainer or sports star that they fantacize about.

The secret to eternal life is to find the Presence in the present. Therefore, mindfulness is good--but not just any mindfulness. The right mindfulness, practiced with a sincere attitude, will lead to God. In fact it comes from God. A clever substitute will lead to a peace apart from God.   

It says in the Bible, "Be still and know that I am God" (and you are not god). In fact, there are so many things nowadays that pull us away from stillness and awareness that it is the author's opinion that the sincere seeker must practice our awareness meditation.

Do you suffer from
Nervousness
Mental fog
Distractions
Inability to concentrate
Find it difficult to focus or
Anxiety?


You simply must learn how to be still. The energy of your own striving pulls you from stillness and involves you in thought stuff. Even the effort to still your thoughts or blank your thoughts is another involvement. The soul itself must be still, apart from thought.

When we try to focus or try to do anything, even trying to quiet our thoughts, we end up struggling and become fatigued. Struggle and trying are themselves an error. Then it is just too easy to slip into daydreams or some comforting music, alcohol, drug or distraction fix.

We also make the mistake of trying to deal with our own guilts, which only strengthens them and makes us weary. You cannot forgive yourself.

You need God's forgiveness and guidance. But you cannot find these in daydreams or external words or rituals.

Nor can you find them in manipulation of thought. You discover them when your soul is still and aware in the Presence in the present.

Go to our 24/7 resource center to learn more about our awareness meditation and perhaps give it a try.

The new 5 Minute Meditation is free, and so is our new meditation app to take the free meditation with you on your iPhone or android.