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Mindful about mindfulness
tibellus
Veteran
A few days ago, I had some sort of "Aha! moment" when I realized that the most mindful moments I had were in my childhood. I remember how immersed in the moment I was and how time seemed to pass at a slower rate. Everything seemed to be more vivid. That's why I was wondering if mindfulness is something we all had and lot as we grew older. What do you think?
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Yes, I can remember as child feeling much more connected, then somehow the barriers went up and there was a distance.
This is also why, apparently, time seemed to go more slowly and innocently as a child. Because we literally had less on our minds.
Now, as adults, the responsibilities of maturity play havoc with our peacefulness, and the added burden of feelings and emotions sticking around and poking at the embers of the past, and the sparks of the future, ignite further stagnation...
Our heads are so full of nonsense, that we forget to look at the wonder of the millions of grains of sand on a beach, the pretty patterns of a snowflake, or the sheer unadulterated joy of jumping into a pile of leaves.
I remember once, when picking up my young daughter from school, a mother admonishing her child for jumping into a puddle.
"Oh, Amanda, for god's sake, why on earth did you do that?!" cried her exasperated parent.
I turned and said: "The mystery is not why children do anything. The mystery is why we stop."
Find a puddle, quick!!
I still indulge the impulse to stomp on an icy puddle to listen to the crunch. Not that we're having nice icy winters around here anymore.
Children are naturally more 'mindful' I guess, but it's not deliberate mindfulness, or mindfulness with 'awareness'. Babies are innocent but not because they've achieved some moral high ground. We outgrow childhood 'mindfulness' and innocence because we need to, probably. The conscious, deliberate adult product of mindfulness is similar enough, but perhaps an advanced version? These things I wonder.
I used to be fearless on ice on the sidewalk. Walking home I would 'skate' with my shoes in alternating strokes home.
I don't know, my 6 year old is fairly aware, and very connected to other people. On Valentine's day he said he wished he could make a valentine for everyone, because he thinks all people, even bad people, need them and that it's his favorite holiday because he cares about people so much. It's something I try to encourage and hope he doesn't lose it, but it seems to happen fairly quickly once they start schooling. I tend to think that is probably intentional on a sub-conscious level, on the part of the governments goal for turning out good citizens that contribute to our economy. I'm kind of a pessimist in that way,
The more I continue through my adult life, the more I find myself looking back to my childhood for direction and answers. Most often, that is where I find what I need.
"That's why I was wondering if mindfulness is something we all had and lot as we grew older. What do you think?"
I think it's a different kind of mindfulness...
In adults, with 'mindfulness' comes wisdom (knowing)
In children, with 'mindfulness' comes 'in the moment' curiosity
and or sadness or enjoyment
Well this is what I've found from observation...I too was a child once (In a past life)
The message is loud and clear in the Bible, to borrow a quotation:
"Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." (Luke 18:16).
He went on, to add:
"Truly I say unto you, whomsoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter therein."
So there is a definite recommendation to clear the mind, heart (and Soul) of unnecessary prejudices, preconceived ideas, perceptions, and all the 'adult hang-ups' we accumulate over time.
let it all go, let it drop, clear the mind of baggage and be Child-LIKE in your approach to peace, Wisdom and Enlightenment.
I think it's great advice. No matter the religious calling or persuasion, it makes sense.
I iz childish?
[Mr Cushion agrees]
This thread made me think more about the concept of "zen mind, beginner mind". I think the true beginner mind is the mind of a child. Always inquiring, always curious, yet anchored in the present moment. Maybe as we grow up we forget that we're just bigger children, and we forget that this adult thing might just be a game we're taking too serious because we want to give a meaning to everything we do.
@tibellus
I think that the yabbering of our skandhas over time just makes our habituated response to them, more ingrained.
The less time spent in the yabbering room, the less limitation to our mind full ness.
When mindfullness is really about not editing phenomenon's flow, there is a child like grace to our observations.
When a meditation practitioner is isolated from the childlike wonder of each moment, then I think adult fears of loss still rule the roost.