Mindfulness is practised to overcome ill-will, restlessness, laziness, and procrastination

Mindfulness means seeing, not seeking. We live a life dominated by our passions of hatred and greed. Due to this, we cling to objects, places, people, and memories, creating a distorted perspective of the world we inhabit. Because of our distorted perception, we perceive worldly things as "I, me, mine," fostering an authoritative personality or a domineering attitude over others. This is responsible for delusional thoughts like "he or she must listen to me," making it difficult for us to accept contradictory situations. The maturity of a "let it go" behaviour is unable to develop because of this.

There is a beautiful discourse that the Buddha gave to an ascetic named Bahiya Daruchariya, who was from present-day Nallasopara. He sought guidance from Buddha to attain enlightenment. However, since Buddha was on alms rounds, he promised to share his teachings upon his return. Daruchariya, feeling a sense of urgency, expressed that life is uncertain, and the timing of death is unpredictable. He fervently requested the Buddha to provide guidance. Even a brief teaching, he insisted, would be something he could meditate upon. Hence, the Buddha advised Daruchariya to train himself to see things as he is seeing them, hear as he is hearing and think as he is thinking. To perceive things without adding defilements and to understand them as they truly are.

However, as we all can observe, seeing often involves experiencing pleasure or displeasure and craving for it, thus burdening oneself. To truly see is to see without attachment, avoiding the creation of any greed or hatred towards any object, place, person, or memory. Even if a sensation arises, you should be aware of the associated greed or hatred and the object toward which it is directed so that you can remove that thought or abandon that subject.

However, if you are not watching your thoughts with their rooted emotions, i.e., greed or hatred or delusion, then it is "Michha Sati," i.e., wrong mindfulness. Nowadays, this misunderstanding is widespread. Most people understand mindfulness as watching their anxiety and stress, considering it a stress reduction therapy, especially in Western society. However, it is a misinterpretation.

While you may experience benefits for a particular time, the anxiety and stress will resurface because the root cause remains. Anyone who is not using mindfulness to remove rooted emotions such as greed and hate are practising wrong mindfulness. A practitioner of meditation once asked Bhikkhu Ananda, one of Buddha's closest disciples, whether the Buddha considered every type of technique helpful for meditation. Bhikkhu Ananda replied, "No, the Buddha does not consider every meditation technique but only those techniques or practices that help eradicate greed, hatred, and delusion." These emotions are the root cause of conflicts, distress, anxiety, and suffering according to the Buddha's teaching.

The observations of the famous psychoanalytic therapist Mark Epstein conclude that "people practicing mindfulness are not benefiting as they should because they misunderstand it." The second most misunderstood concept of mindfulness is that people consider it a meditation, but it is not. It is just a base for developing concentration and meditation, i.e., Jhana States. Mindfulness is practised to overcome ill-will, restlessness, laziness, and procrastination, aiding in more effective meditation.

(The writer is a Buddhist monk; views are personal)