My love affair with Buddhism continues.

There are 2 kinds of mindfulness – both relate to the present moment, but whereas basic mindfulness is about where you are, and what is around you, there is also a mindfulness of the future.  This is to do with how decisions and action have an intention, a direction into the future.

Breaking it down, there is the "clocking" of what your senses tell you about your internal and external environment right now.  Then there is the "staying with" – a non-judgmental, kind awareness of that information, those feelings.  Not very good at that.  Then there is perspective – are these feelings unique?  Awful?  Inevitable?  Permanent?

Finally there is choice.  The separation of what is perceived, from what must be.  Some of that is to do with how all things are but a manifestation of mind, but also there is the whole ABC division of action from consequence. [Everytime I hear the word choice now, I think of the Matrix films…  Perhaps I have underestimated their philosophical value!]

Apparently there is good evidence for the benefit of mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in substance abuse, recurrent depression, chronic pain.