Mindfulness

Thoroughly enjoyed the 60 minutes segment this week on mindfulness. I've been practicing (and struggling) with meditation for the last two years in combination with a physical yoga practice that has been completely transformative.

I use yoga as a tool, in the same way Zinn uses walking meditation, etc., to develop awareness. Awareness of my physical body and the emotions (thoughts) that are associated with it. My purpose for gaining this awareness is to cultivate acceptance -- acceptance of my limitations, my strengths, my desires, but ultimately, to access the bigger things inside -- purpose, peace, and perhaps even that elusive spark of divinity.

Mindfulness is, or can be, simply another path towards that. It was presented as a seemingly new idea but indeed, I believe it to be a practice nearly as old as humanity.