Mindfulness is not enough!
Mindfulness is not enough!
The Great Forest Meditation Masters, including my own teacher Venerable Ajahn Chah; would often speak about the importance of ‘Sati – Paññā’.
In fact, the essence practice of the Buddha’s Teachings for those that are serious about serious results in practice is ‘Sati – Paññā ‘.
‘Sati – Paññā’ is ‘Mindfulness and Wisdom’.
Here the appreciation is that mindfulness alone is not enough! Whilst we hear and read a lot about ‘mindfulness’ the real experts have been saying and teaching for a long time that mindfulness is not enough.
Yes, it is important to be mindful, to be aware; but what makes the real difference is Wisdom.
When the allies of Mindfulness and Wisdom come together they create a powerful alliance for clarity and change. For seeing what is happening and discerning and deciding what is best to do.
Just seeing or being aware is not as powerful as also knowing and understanding.
Whilst mindfulness can be seen as another new additive to contemporary Psychology, it remains simply a mental extension. It is Wisdom that brings the heart of understanding to the situation of our self and our life.
The alliance of both Mindfulness and Wisdom are much more than just a ‘mindful wisdom’ or wise mindfulness’. Here ‘the whole is greater than the sum of the parts’.
Within the context of the choices and challenges of our contemporary life; whether it is in relation to engaging with loved ones or work colleagues, the man in the street or news of a terror attack; engage and use our Mindfulness and Wisdom as our interface with life.
John B.
