5 Mindful Practice For Beginners: Stage 2

I recommend that you go to the introduction before proceeding with Stage 2.

Mindful Practices for Beginners: Introduction to a Path of Prosperity & Fulfilment.

Embracing the Full Mind of Mindfulness

From my perspective—someone who has been meditating for many years teaches others to meditate and guides people to look inside their bodies to visualize what is happening so they can observe without prejudice—mindfulness is being in full mind. But what does that mean, exactly?

Awareness is the key to being mindful, as I’ve mentioned before. It doesn’t have much to do with the intellectual mind we use in everyday life but with consciousness.

This stunning photo of a fully aware cat shows how animals can be entirely mindful naturally, especially animals that hunt. This beautiful animal is focused on hunting something. Every cell of its body is alert and aware. It is not thinking or using any obvious intellectual process but giving over its body to natural instincts and impulses—primarily the impulse to survive by eating.

I hope you will agree that we humans are animals, too, very sophisticated ones. Some people would say we have overdeveloped our intellectual minds to the detriment of our natural state.

We possess similar instincts and impulses, although we rarely use them. We don’t have to hunt to survive and may never have experienced profound hunger. Reflecting on this idea may raise your awareness about your instincts; imitating this sleek cat poised to pounce on its meal will make you regularly mindful.

Simple Instructions to Get Started:

1. Lower your eyelids and sit with a straight back near a natural light source or candle. Make sure your lips are slightly parted and your tongue is relaxed on the floor of your mouth.
2. Listen into the environment: outside first; then around you (inside); then inside you (your body functions and storehouse of your life/lives/DNA)
3. Notice your breathing is changing, perhaps deepening, as you slowly encourage the air you borrow from the Universe IN through your nose and allow it OUT slowly through your slightly parted lips.

Like the beautiful cat, bring all your attention to becoming that cat in this hunting pose. Every skin pore of your body, eyelash, and cell is essential. You are supremely here and now—the ultimate mindful state.

You do not need a timer for this unless you have a deadline or a meeting. Just stay with your cat-like awareness for as long as you like.

There are no rules or restrictions about mindfulness. You are truly free. But you may be amazed at how long you want to emulate this creature when you return to your normal state. We have hunting animals in our DNA so that it may feel natural.

Starting Your Mindful Journey: Beginner Reminders

Remember to use your designated space for mindful practices (see introduction).

Also, be careful to sit without support (unless you have a back problem) with your spine lengthened – the crown of your head going up and your sitting bones going down into the cushion of the chair or carpet.

Your shoulders should be wide, and your arms should hang down freely. In this way, gravity can help position your body naturally.

Breathing Life into Your Mindful Practice

Breathing awareness is key to transforming your mind into a full mind and expanding your consciousness (see GIF below: the miracle of your breathing apparatus). Gratitude is an essential component of mindfulness. Above, I mentioned that you should be grateful for each breath you borrow from the Universe.

We can have deep gratitude for our lives if we are fully aware! We would not exist or survive without the Earth and its human-friendly stratosphere.

Spending a little time each day consciously using your breath will help to anchor you in the present moment. Following your breath with your attention – in through the nose and out through slightly parted lips – will bring you to the centre of the moment. Here and Now, the past comprises vague thoughts and memories, and the future is pure speculation.

Mindfulness is here-and-now, listening and breathing like the beautiful aware cat.

Enter your Inner Universe: the Ideal Place

You probably do not need to hunt for food to enter your inner universe via mindfulness. This is the ideal place because:

• all your personal values are indisputable
• you can access a comprehensive view of existence from your unique perspective and integrate your values
• you can choose your goals without distraction from others/social systems/traditions
• you can plan your future singlemindedly
• you can maintain unity and coherence in your life

Next, Stage 3.