The difference between mindfulness and concentration

seeker242

Good video! :)

Cloud

Don't have time right now to watch the video, but I'd say the short answer would be that concentration is keeping your mind focused on one thing. Mindfulness is keeping your mind aware of all things as they arise and fall.

DhammaDhatu

Attention = concentration

Mindfulness = recollection/to remember

The American monk is just a human being, just a seeker, rather than a Buddha

Most of what he said, including about "pushing down hindrances", is incorrect

If we listen to recent talks by this monk, he admits in the past he was very confused

Right concentration does not suppress

Mindfulness does not destroy

Both of these monks are very confused & both create confusion

Mindfulness allows concentration to develop; concentration allows insight to develop

Each of these three dhammas function together, at the same time

:)

seeker242

Attention = concentration

Mindfulness = recollection/to remember

The American monk is just a human being, just a seeker, rather than a Buddha

Most of what he said, including about "pushing down hindrances", is incorrect

If we listen to recent talks by this monk, he admits in the past he was very confused

Right concentration does not suppress

Mindfulness does not destroy

Both of these monks are very confused & both create confusion

Mindfulness allows concentration to develop; concentration allows insight to develop

Each of these three dhammas function together, at the same time

:)

Thanks. :) But you didn't quote any scriptures, I am disappointed. :D So mindfulness is recollecting/remembering. What exactly is there to remember? Which particular monks give "good talks" about this sort of thing?

DhammaDhatu

what is there to remember?

the mind remembers to maintain the mind in a state free from craving, judging & clinging

the mind remembers to put the Four Noble Truths into practise

the mind remembers to be observant (anupassi)

the mind remembers to keep the mind empty

buddha said one develops concentration & attains jhana by making "letting go" (vosagga) the sole object

when the mind engages mindfulness in this way & develops concentration in this way, there is none of the "suppression" and "pushing down" these monks are referring to

right concentration itself becomes the power or state which purifies the body & mind

also, the mind based in letting go is one that is clear & spacious and thus suitable for insight

concentration means to have a single focus. the single focus is letting go

regards :)

ddrishi

There can't be a better answer than what Cloud has given above.

DhammaDhatu

Yes there can. Clound's answer is non-sequitur.

Mindfulness is not about keeping your mind aware of all things as they arise and fall.

The Buddha said concentration facilitates the awareness of all things as they arise and fall.

:wtf:

And what is the development of concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to the ending of the effluents? There is the case where a monk remains focused on arising & falling away with reference to the five clinging-aggregates: 'Such is form, such its origination, such its passing away. Such is feeling, such its origination, such its passing away. Such is perception, such its origination, such its passing away. Such are fabrications, such their origination, such their passing away. Such is consciousness, such its origination, such its disappearance.' This is the development of concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to the ending of the effluents.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.041.than.html

For a person whose mind is concentrated, there is no need for an act of will, 'May I know & see things as they actually are.' It is in the nature of things that a person whose mind is concentrated knows & sees things as they actually are.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an11/an11.002.than.html

DhammaDhatu

There can't be a better answer than what Cloud has given above.

Don't have time right now to watch the video, but I'd say the short answer would be that concentration is keeping your mind focused on one thing. Mindfulness is keeping your mind aware of all things as they arise and fall.

Any separation of mindfulness & concentration is non-sequitur

The Buddha included mindfulness & concentration within one path, just like eight strands form one rope

Mindfulness is a factor of concentration; without mindfulness, concentration cannot generate

For example, you must complete some urgent work but your mind also has the desire to watch TV. Mindfulness functions to remind your mind: "Concentrate on your work rather than watch TV. If you do not finish your work you will lose your job!"

When the mind is focused on one thing, that one thing includes focusing on things as they arise and fall

The exclusive object of the mind is arising & falling

:)

Any separation of mindfulness & concentration is non-sequitur

The view of Cloud and the monks is non-sequitur because they all separate mindfulness from concentration

The most serious misunderstanding in Buddhism is what mindfulness really is

It is so serious that two monks cannot even explain correctly what mindfulness is

This occurs due to a lack of insight regarding the operation of one's mind

:)

What is sammasati? Sati means to bear in mind or bring to mind. Sati is the state of recollecting, the state of remembering, the state of non-fading, the state of non-forgetting. Sati means the sati that is a Spiritual Faculty, the sati that is a Spiritual Power, Sammasati, the Sati that is an Enlightenment Factor, that which is a Path Factor and that which is related to the Path. This is what is called sammasati." [Vbh.105, 286]

http://www.buddhanet.net/cmdsg/s-sati1.htm#Sammasati

Cloud

If I'd have known my statement would've been so picked-apart, I would've been more clear. It wasn't meant to say they were separate. But not looking for a debate, too much fuss. ;)

DhammaDhatu

Non-sequitur. What was written is not mindfulness. Mindfulness is 'remembering' :)

For example, you must complete some urgent work but your mind also has the desire to watch TV. Mindfulness functions to remind your mind: "Concentrate on your work rather than watch TV. If you do not finish your work you will lose your job!"

What is sammasati?

Sati means to bear in mind or bring to mind. Sati is the state of recollecting, the state of remembering, the state of non-fading, the state of non-forgetting.

This is what is called sammasati.

[Vbh.105, 286]

http://www.buddhanet.net/cmdsg/s-sati1.htm#Sammasati

DhammaDhatu