"If, in ordinary life, mindfulness, or attention is directed to any object, it is rarely sustained long enough for the purpose of factual observation. Generally, it is followed immediately by emotional reaction, discriminative thought, reflection, purposeful action.....
But in the methodical development of mindfulness...bare attention is sustained for as long a time as one's strength of concentration permits."
Bare attention---the concept of it is something that I could not grasp until I experienced it first hand.
ReplyDeleteIn one of my meditation classes, our instructor suggested beginning a sitting meditation with an intention--she suggested one of, "I'm training my mind to pay attention." This mantra resonated with me because it reminded me that I *was* learning to pay attention, to have a bare-bones attention-- of the breath, the pulse in my wrists--whatever. But whatever it was, my allegiance had to be to return to that over and over again. And, eventually, by keeping up with this practice, I learned what bare-attention meant. It feels spacious and clear and open. Of course, it doesn't last for long, but it's nice when it does!
I'm thinking about a chapter that Ram Dass and Paul Gorman wrote called 'The Listening Mind' in Welwood's 'Ordinary Magic.' They speak about how our thoughts are always happening, experienced in the form of sensations, feelings, memories, anticipations, and speculations. Our thoughts call for attention, "Think of me," "Notice me," "Attend to me," and we either give them attention or let them pass on by. Yet, mindfulness can prevent us from being carried away by our thoughts, instead of answering to every "Notice me!" Through meditation, for example, we can begin to notice the moments or the ways in which we don't allow for concentration (attending to every thought, reacting to every environmental stimulus). As Nancy mentioned in her post, simply focusing on our breath teaches us to slow down, be quiet, and observe or even penetrate our thoughts. We learn to be aware behind our thoughts, cultivating bare attention and creating openness for greater insight.
ReplyDeleteI have experienced the achievement of bare attention in sitting meditation as a way to practice quiet and gentle mindfulness in ordinary life. Noticing when my attention has traveled in twenty different directions in the last minute, I recognize the value in slowing down, breathing, and giving attention to what matters.