COMM 105 - Miracle Of Mindfulness questions exam 2

What are the 2 ways washing the dishes? One is goal oriented and one is process oriented. One is in the future and the other is in the present. - EXPLAIN this difference.

1. To wash dishes to just get them done. 2. To wash dishes to thoroughly clean them. -Goal oriented is in the future, which means you're only focused on reaching that goal. -Process oriented is in the present, meaning you're thinking of the steps it takes to reach that goal.

Tolstoy poised 3 questions in his story of the emperor. What are the questions & what are their answers?

1. What is the best time to do each thing? - time schedule, plan in advance, not enough into 2. Who are the most important people to work with? -trust in administers, priest, and monks, physicians 3. What is the most important thing to do at all times? - science, religion, military skills

Objects of the mind are called 'dharma'. There are 5; What are they?

1. bodily forms & physical forms 2. feelings 3. perceptions 4. mental functionings 5. consciousness

Mindfulness is both the seed and the fruit. EXPLAIN.

A seed is just one part of being mindful but the fruit is the whole aspect of being mindful.

One of the benefit of meditation is the foster of creativity (new ways of thinking and doing). HOW does Hanh talk about imagination- conditioned, self-repeating, thought- and WHAT does he propose as the way out?

An illusion of reality which conceives of reality as a part of the small pieces of entitles and self. In order to break one must meditate on the nature of interdependence in the process of creation and destruction.

How is breath itself mindfulness? (Hint: alignment)

Breath is aligned to both the body & the mind. It alone is the tool which can bring them both together. This illuminates both & brings both peace and calm-- creating mindfulness.

Mindfulness, or being fully present and self-aware in the moment, moment-by-moment, begins with connecting with the breath. WHY the breath? (Hint: a bridge)

Breathing maintains mindfulness in a natural way to prevent dispersion. Breath is the BRIDGE which unites your body to your thoughts. When your mind becomes scattered, use your breath to take hold of your mind again.

Besides meditation, what are some practices or activities that you could do with some regularity that would help you be fully present and self-aware while you go about doing whatever you do? -In other words, what can you do to improve your washing of the dishes??

One can self reflect on their thoughts and actions to acknowledge and recognize one's self.

In sitting meditation, (a) sitting with the back straight, the head and neck aligned with the spinal cord and (b) following in the even, natural flow of the breathing are important in the mindfulness meditation. What OTHER guidelines can enhance the experience?

Relaxing your muscles, concentrating, and letting go.

Mindfulness of the mind: "A feeling of sadness has arisen in me" - not saying 'I am sad' which would also be correct but not preferred in mindfulness observation & recognition. -- These two indicate a very different relationship to the sadness.-- What is the DIFFERENCE & how is that SIGNIFICANT?

Stating that you are sad is not recognizing it in mindfulness, but by knowing the feeling has risen, you are aware of your feelings and thoughts

What does Hanh have to say about "wholesome" and "unwholesome" thoughts?

To acknowledge both of them, don't dwell. Just reach awareness and you will fear nothing

What is the best way to breath in most activities?

With many activities we must continue to watch our breath to maintain mindfulness throughout a long period of time. Focusing on the 'in breath' and the 'out breath' is key (by counting).

How might a beginning mediator "follow their breath"?

by counting in breaths and out breaths, from 1-10

What is the first object of our contemplation?

our own person and the assembly of 5 aggregates in ourself

Hanh's metaphors of the boat crossing the river and the finger pointing to the moon illustrate what?

raft indicating an issue and the finger indicates what you're reaching for

The story of the two acrobats illustrates why I teach this course the way I do. What did the young girl say to the man at the bottom?

to watch over themselves to ensure no accidents