What is Mindfulness Meditation

Meditation

“The function of meditation practice is to heal and transform. Meditation helps us to be whole and to look deeply into ourselves and around us in order to realize what is really there. The energy that is used in meditation is mindfulness; to look deeply is to use mindfulness to light up the recesses of our mind, or to look into the heart of things in order to see their true nature. When mindfulness is present, meditation is present.

By looking deeply, the meditation practitioner gains insight, praja, or wisdom. In the meditation process internal blocks of suffering such as fear, anger, despair and hatred are transformed, relationships with humans and nature become easier, freedom and joy penetrate. As we become freer and happier, we cease to act in ways that make others suffer, and we are able to bring about change around us and to help others become free.”

– Thich Nhat Hanh (Preface, Blooming of the Lotus)

Mindfulness, Concentration, Insight

Mindfulness gives birth to joy and happiness. Another source of happiness is concentration. The energy of mindfulness carries within it the energy of concentration… When your mindfulness becomes powerful, your concentration becomes powerful, and when you are fully concentrated, you have a chance to make a breakthrough, to achieve insight.

Hanh, T. N. (2010). Thich Nhat Hanh on the practice of mindfulness. Lion’s Roar.
https://www.lionsroar.com/mindful-living-thich-nhat-hanh-on-the-practice-of-mindfulness-march-2010/.

Further Reading

What is Meditation?