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"Caring for the Soul: Concentration, Mindfulness, and Understanding"
Mindfulness is the energy of awareness, that is, the energy of concentration focused on a single object; concentration is that energy having been “gathered completely,” creating a stable dwelling. When a child pays attention to a math problem, that is mindfulness; thanks to mindfulness, concentration is formed. In walking meditation, each step becomes a place of concentration when we pour our full mindfulness into it, cutting off scattered thoughts, nourishing happiness. Mindfulness is like sunlight, concentration is the greenhouse that gathers that light to nurture the seeds of happiness such as
- loving kindness
- joy and equanimity
- faith
- non-worry
Mindfulness and concentration nourish happiness, melting the mass of suffering like snow under sunlight.
In Mahayana practice, there are three samadhis (emptiness, signlessness, wishlessness) that give rise to all concentrations; the six paramitas, of which Prajna Paramita is the substance of generosity; and five attachments that need to be recognized for transformation:
- view of self – attachment to the body as self
- view of extremes – attachment to permanence or annihilation
- wrong view – mistaking suffering for happiness, permanence for self
- attachment to views – clinging to old knowledge
- attachment to rites and rituals – turning precepts into rigid forms
Precepts, concentration, and insight inter-are: mindfulness gives rise to concentration, concentration gives rise to insight; insight illuminates mindfulness and concentration, creating a complete path of practice.