what is mindfulness?

Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.  This kind of awareness nurtures greater awareness, clarity and acceptance of present moment reality.  It wakes us up to the fact that our lives unfold only in moments.  If we are not fully present for may of these moments, we may not only miss what is most valuable in our lives but also fail to realize the richness and the depth of our possibilities for growth and transformation.

Jon Kabat-Zinn

Mindfulness refers to keeping one’s consciousness alive to the present reality.  It is the miracle by which we master and restore ourselves.

Thich Nhat Hanh, The Miracle of Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a universal human capacity—a way of paying attention to the present moment unfolding of experience—that can be cultivated, sustained and integrated into everyday life through in-depth inquiry, fuelled by the ongoing discipline of meditation practice.  Its central aim is the relief of suffering and the uncovering of our essential nature.

Saki Santorelli, Heal Thy Self

Mindfulness I’d say I really see mindfulness as an act of love, insofar as if mindfulness is about—well, the operational definition is ‘paying attention on purpose in the present moment non-judgmentally.’ But while that’s valuable, it maybe leaves some things out, because it’s not the paying attention in and of itself that cultivates mindfulness. There’s a certain quality of, if you will, heartfulness or a kind of tenderness or openness that really contributes and is a necessary ingredient or element of what we typically call mindfulness, even a kind of goodness.

Saki Santorelli in a Sounds True interview 9/7/13

Mindfulness is…a turning towards life… To live as if each moment is important, as if each moment counted and could be worked with, even if it is a moment of pain, sadness, despair or fear.

Jon Kabat-Zinn

This is a work in progress, a process of uncovering our natural openness, uncovering our natural intelligence and warmth. I have discovered, just as my teachers always told me, that we already have what we need. The wisdom, the strength, the confidence, the awakened heart and mind are always accessible, here, now, always. We are just uncovering them. We are rediscovering them. We’re not inventing them or importing them from somewhere else. They’re here. That’s why when we feel caught in darkness, suddenly the clouds can part. Out of nowhere we cheer up or relax or experience the vastness of our minds.  No one else gives this to you.

Pema Chodron

In the end, just three things matter:
How well we have lived
How well we have loved
How well we have learned to let go

Jack Kornfield