What is mindfulness?

Article by Yoga Meditation Specialist Chu Thi Nha - Unit of Regenerative Medicine Clinic and Educational Psychology - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

Surely all of us have wondered: “What is meditation? What is mindfulness? Because today many people talk about it or practice it. So what's so great about mindfulness for us to discover?

To find out what mindfulness is, let's first learn the definition of what mindfulness is through a brief, easy-to-understand article from the book "Love stress, love sadness" by author Vo Xuan Dzung - a dedicated and talented pediatrician born in Vietnam and raised in the US.
“If you ask someone the definition of mindfulness, it is like asking that person “what does chocolate taste like?” Or “how is the music you like to listen to?” A definition can be just a small idea of ​​reality. Just reading a book on mindfulness without experiencing it for yourself is like going to a restaurant and just reading the menu without eating anything. We enter a restaurant to enjoy delicious food, in the same way, the purpose of mindfulness is to experience it directly.
That's the theory, but there are some definitions of mindfulness to get started. Jon Kabat-Zinn has defined mindfulness as “Paying attention in a special way: purposeful, present, and non-judgmental.” This is a simple and precise definition.
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Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment. Mindfulness is stopping functioning like a autopilot and waking up to the here and now. Mindfulness is stopping regretting the past, stopping worrying about the future. In addition, there are a few other ways to describe mindfulness:
“Presence” “Awake” “Wake up” “Attention and notice” “See clearly” “Knowledge with loving mind” “Open your heart” “Being in Love” For thousands of years, cultural traditions around the world have recognized the wisdom of an open heart, of being present, even though they don't call it mindfulness. There may be times when you have spontaneously experienced mindfulness. It is possible that, sometimes without any effort, you are deeply aware of something you are doing, knowing only the present moment - the past and the future have almost disappeared - overflowing with gratitude for knowing you. are still alive. Chances are, you've had moments like that while playing sports or playing a piece of music, or petting your cat, or listening to a piece of music you love. In those moments, whether you like it or not, you are truly mindful.