“You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it.” ~ Albert Einstein
Mindfulness meditation is known as insight meditation because the intent is to give us insight into the nature of reality. Zen would have us define it by what it is not-It is not concentration. Concentrating of focusing on a single object during meditation has its own benefits. Mindfulness meditation allows the meditator to experience in a friendly and calm manner all that the meditator is experiencing; breathing, body awareness ...the mind wandering. This type of meditation requires that we become observe what passes through our thoughts from an objective state.
In this state we are awake and fully aware of the present moment. We reserve judgement and sit quietly and observe while fully in the moment.
A simple mindfulness exercise:
1. Sit comfortably and begin to follow the breath in and out.
2. When the mind wanders bring your attention gently back to your breath.
3. Observe how often your mind wanders, pay attention to the thoughts and images that keep coming back into your awareness.
4. After you have become calm and observant get a pen and piece of paper and write down as many of the thoughts and images as you can remember. Be mindful of which ones are necessary and which one you can let go of.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/07/19/1570532/the-busy-mind-on-meditation.html
