22nd May 2001

Subject explained :     MINDFULNESS


Good Afternoon Dear Children,

Before this meeting started, we heard you all discussing the  loss of
keys and files!  Why does this happen?  Why do you keep forgetting?

A good subject today for today is - MINDFULNESS!

You, my children, do not consciously use your full mind when you do
things. The mind is full of random thoughts which keep on intruding and
thus cause you to forget things. When you consciously, in each moment of

time, use your full mind and do or say anything then it gets etched on
to the brain and can never be forgotten.

My son here (Yazad) is the one who is always forgetting. He needs to
write down everything or has to depend on his electronic equipment. You
do not need to do this.

Let us see what is this Mindfulness. It is that mode of the mind that is

not filled with random thoughts. When you sit for meditation you will
notice how many random thoughts keep on intruding and taking you away
from the object of your meditation. Mindfulness means a mind full of
conscious thoughts, focused and chosen. You need to learn to focus and
hold on to the chosen thought. If you notice, you do not even know how
to breathe properly. Because you do not pay any attention to your
breathing. Your breath at most times is shallow and short.

The following is a very good exercise in helping you attain mindfulness
in all that you do so that you need not forget anything.

Watch your breath. Visualize a tiny leaf in front of you. Now practice
breathing in and out with the leaf. As you breath in visualize the life
being drawn towards you  and as you exhale visualize it moving away from you.

Watch your breath coming in and going out with the aid of the leaf's
movement. Practice this exercise daily and your breathing will improve
because now you will be breathing consciously and fully - in
mindfulness. [Your mind is full of only conscious breathing and so no
random thought can intrude].

You do not live in the present moment. A moment is all that you have.
How many times you have heard this. When you learn to consciously live
in a moment it means that in each moment you are fully aware, conscious
of what you are doing.
For e.g. after this class is over, try and notice when you get up and
put the chairs away. Are you doing it consciously? Are you aware that
'here I am picking up this chair and putting it in its place'? If you do

that then you will not forget where you put the chair. Even after an
hour you will remember that yes, I put it in this particular place.

This is because you chose to consciously focus your mind on the one
action you were doing in that one moment. If you use this method of
putting away things consciously and with choice and full attention, why
would you forget keys or files?

Your environment is a very strong puppeteer. The environment pulls you
and you dance accordingly. You are not in control. Your environment is
controlling you. You like to control others and everything around you
but you give away your power to others to control you. Why? You are in
control, you choose what to think, say or do.

When you consciously live in the moment and choose your thoughts, words
or action you are in control. You are in MINDFULNESS.

You only have one moment of time which is truly yours. Be fully in that
moment. Then with the practice of this living in the moment, slowly all
your random thoughts will get erased and your mind will become clearer.
You will be in control of yourself.

God Bless You my children.

Jade Fire