Mindfulness: The Power of Persistent Prayer.


Here it is... the secret... Mindfulness.

In many religions, people "sin," which is derived from the latin for against, without, absence, all implied in relationship to God, and then pray to God for remedy or cure.

Sakyamuni Buddha gave us a code which has in it a key called "Correct Mind," also translated as Right Mind. From this the concept of Mindfulness has been derived. This is one of the Eight parts of the Pathway to self awareness and control over karma.

Correct Mind is a very clear thing in many parts of mother Asia, but needs some translation in the West, and so here is the best one man can do to explain this Way.

Being appropriately aware is important, and to expand our understanding of the nature of the moment we meditate in order to gain insight and control over our perceptions. A Correct Mind, is disciplined first to perceive the boundary between self and other, and eventually open and flexible enough to acknowledge the illusion of separateness in an Interdependent Universe of Sangha.

After the appropriate context for Correct Mind has been ascertained, then the seeker must go about and interact with the Universe at large. Typically, the greatest challenges are from other human beings, but some people may also be equally or more greatly challenged by nature. Regardless, of where personal challenge lies, the seeker must be constantly ready to overcome the obstacle of self which constantly arises.

Once the obsticle of self has been met with frequency and dispatched with compassion, then the seeker may become Mindful in many situations, most of which may appear to be absent Mindfulness. Regardless of the purpose, the seeker must insist on Mindfulness within their interior, even if no words, actions, or deeds are apparently different or distinct from other people.

Once this Quiet Mindfulness has been achieved, the seeker may find occasion where the Buddha in others recognizes the Buddha in you. This is a wonderful moment, but need not be clung to. You will find as you begin to perceive Buddha everywhere, that Buddha speaks to you constantly, and as such you can safely enter into the dialogue of consciousness with the Universe.

People who are not Mindful may say inappropriate or harsh things. It is important to see past these illusions.

If you hear a sad tale or bad piece of news, it is important to be in a state of acknowledgment of these things, yet your practice of letting go also affords a silent prayer towards the healing of all sentient beings. So letting go this bad thing is part of your prayer to Buddha for universal healing.

Do not cling to bad things, past, present or future. Only cling to your Way of Mindfulness, which holds in its center you, Buddha, and your conscious effort (call it prayer) for the Universe.

By this method of Persistent Prayer, you can bring Mindfulness into daily existence, and the more you have studied, practiced, and prayed the sooner you can enter into this state of consciousness.

One final note, is that at the end of the day the human body is limited in its experiences to that which we can know. Therefore, do not fret if there are moments missed, or "off-days." The point is the effort of consciousness and the practice of Mindfulness.