This point is often called Right Recollectedness or Right Attention. Actually it means keeping one’s mind on what one is doing. As an example of how important it is to have this Right Mindfulness, or Right Attention, let us imagine a boy is riding his bicycle down a busy city-street. He is not paying attention to what he is doing and absent-mindedly goes through a stop-light. Another vehicle strikes his bike and the boy gets badly hurt. All this happens as a result of not using this important point seven of the Noble Path.
Right Mindfulness is a very great help to us in every good thing we do. Any job we are doing is a job that is done better if we use Right Mindfulness. If we fail to centre our attention on what we are doing, then it is very likely that the finished job will not be satisfactory.
The most successful students are those who have trained themselves to give complete attention to whatever subject they may be studying. If the subject is mathematics, then it is not a good use of point seven if the student’s attention wanders away and he begins to worry over whether or not he will pass his history examination. He would have a far better chance to pass all his examinations if he gave his undivided attention to each subject in its turn. Have you ever noticed that when we are trying to do three or four things at the same time, we usually get them only partly finished or, at most, imperfectly done. That is because there is divided attention. Divided attention is never Right Attention.
Right Mindfulness is a form of concentration and concentration always means fixing the attention on one point. In fact, Right Mindfulness is something referred to as one-pointedness. It is almost impossible for anyone to be successful in life and find real happiness if he cannot concentrate his attention on whatever he may have to do from day to day. Not be able to do this is not to have Right Mindfulness.
Ah Choo was helping her mother to prepare dinner. Her friend Ah Lan was in the kitchen for a chatty little neighbourly visit. They were devoting all their attention to Ah Choo’s account of the movie she had seen the previous afternoon. Absent-mindedly Ah Choo went on chopping meat as she talked to Ah Lan, and as her story increased in excitement, she chopped more and more vigorously. When she came close to the climax of the movie, she chopped so strongly that some of the small pieces of meat were flying all over the kitchen. Then came the climax of the movie and the heaviest chop of all; of went the tip of one of Ah Choo’s fingers! If she had kept her attention on her work she would still have her finger undamaged.
RIGHT MINDFULNESS
Keep thou thy mind as a garden,
Let not thy diligence cease,
Weeding out evil and error,
Striving the good to increase.
Sow thou by Highest Attention
Thoughts that are holy and pure;
Constant and earnest endeavour
Vigour and growth will assure.
Seek with the Light of the Doctrine
Daily thy thoughts to illume,
Truth by its power shall quicken,
Bring them in virtue to bloom.
Then shall thy thoughts find fruition,
Yielding in word and in deed
Cheer, inspiration and blessing,
Help unto others in need.
-A. R. Zorn.
QUESTIONS
Does Right Mindfulness mean thinking about several things at one time, or concentrating on one thought?
What is another name for Right Mindfulness?
Is it helpful to us in all we do if we have Right Mindfulness?
What often happens when we are trying to do two or three things at one time?
Is “one-pointedness” a good way to describe Right Mindfulness?
What caused Ah Choo to cut off her finger tip?
If we do not have Right Mindfulness, are we more likely to have happiness or unhappiness?
When we grow up and are working, will Right Mindfulness help us to succeed?
If we do not use Right Mindfulness in our school work, are we likely to pass the examinations?
Try to do some simple addition while you are saying the ABC and see what happens.
Typing for Quang Duc Homepage in Melbourne, Australia:
The Catering Unit of Minh Quang Retreat in Sydney, Australia has offered good services in a very solemn and deliciated manner and its very first meal reminded me of the nice smell of the Bowl of Rice of Fragrance in the old times.
Being a so-called Westerner in this life, I'm often asked the question, "What are the main reasons you have chosen to practise Buddhism?". In answering this type of question, I normally give varying answers of varying lengths depending on who is asking and for what reason they are asking the question.
oin us in Melbourne for our annual AGM and Sangha get-together.
Please click the button below to access more information,
to download the flyer and to register for the ASA IN MELB 2019
HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR 2019
Year of the Pig
Welcome to our
LUNAR NEW YEAR EVE:
Monday: 4/2/2019:From 6pm to mid-night),
the program includes:
Vegie Food Stalls , Prayers for everyone’s Ancestors , Repantance Ceremony, Cultural performances, Lion Dance & Firecrackers; Prayers for World Peace & Family Well-Being.
All welcome, come & go at your own pleasure!
Buddha Blessings & Our Best Wishes to you & your family
Within a tree, there is a flower
Within a rock, there is a flame
Dedication for Most Venerable Thich Nhu Dien
on the ceremonial event of his 70th birthday, and 40 year-milestone for Vien Giac Temple to be established in Germany
Bhikhhu Thích Nguyên Tạng
Translated into English by: Dr Tâm Tịnh, Hoa Chí & Hoa Nghiêm
“Within a tree, there’s a flower, within a rock, there’s a flame” is the dharma taught by Zen Master Dao, recalled by Most Venerable Thich Nhu Dien during his dharmic teachings to which I had good fortune to attend in his dharma-propagating journey to the United States of America in 2006 when I acted as an assistant to him.
Smartphone Overuse, Youth Suicide and Buddhism as a Healing Source,
Youth suicide is disturbingly rising. Ashley Welch, in her article “What’s behind the rise in youth suicides?” (2017), gave some insights into the trend. The author mentioned potential causes for this trauma and notably pointed to “the correlation between the rising popularity of smartphones and increased rates of suicide and depression among young people” (para. 17). Although Welch did not offer a clear reason for the correlation, this point raises an awareness of an irony. We, as readers, may wonder, “How can such a wonderful entertaining device cause that terrible thing?” In this paper, I will discuss the roots of this pain, and then suggest Buddhism as a healing source.
Why Aren't We Teaching You Mindfulness?
AnneMarie Rossi, Founder and CEO of BeMindful
Harvard conducted a research study and they tracked more than 1,000 people from birth until age 32 looking for what made someone successful. What common characteristic or trait was seen in a successful individual? It wasn't their race, what language they spoke, what neighborhood they grow up in, or how much money their parents had. It wasn't how well they did on standardized tests or even their IQ. It was self-control; those who were successful, who had good careers, financial stability, loving relationships, and physical health. Those who were successful, were the ones who could focus, pay attention, and regulate their emotions.
Nguyện đem công đức này, trang nghiêm Phật Tịnh Độ, trên đền bốn ơn nặng, dưới cứu khổ ba đường, nếu có người thấy nghe, đều phát lòng Bồ Đề, hết một báo thân này, sinh qua cõi Cực Lạc.
May the Merit and virtue,accrued from this work, adorn the Buddhas pureland, Repay the four great kindnesses above, andrelieve the suffering of those on the three paths below, may those who see or hear of these efforts generates Bodhi Mind, spend their lives devoted to the Buddha Dharma, the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Quang Duc Buddhist Welfare Association of Victoria Tu Viện Quảng Đức | Quang Duc Monastery Senior Venerable Thich Tam Phuong | Senior Venerable Thich Nguyen Tang Address: Quang Duc Monastery, 105 Lynch Road, Fawkner, Vic.3060 Australia Tel: 61.03.9357 3544 ; Fax: 61.03.9357 3600 Website: http://www.quangduc.com ; http://www.tuvienquangduc.com.au (old) Xin gửi Xin gửi bài mới và ý kiến đóng góp đến Ban Biên Tập qua địa chỉ: quangduc@quangduc.com , tvquangduc@bigpond.com
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