Mindfulness reminders - share yours!

[rob]

I've found that I need to place signposts of sorts along the path, so that I don't become wrapped up in the fray to the point where I'm sleepwalking through. I've been making use of post-its and gift tags lately, and it's been quite helpful.

For example, I have a gift tag around my electric toothbrush that says "relax", and a post-it in my fridge that says "breathe", etc etc. Places that are only in front of my face once or twice a day so I don't become desensitized to them. I would have put one on the vacuum, but then I'd never see it I've also changed the text message sound on my phone to a sort of gong/bell that reminds me.

Does anyone else have little reminders they use throughout the day? I've love to find some more

[Andrew]

I would have put one on the vacuum, but then I'd never see it

hahaha 

I put them on my computer monitor at work; last year when I was going hard at 'noting' I found it really useful to be reminded of the factors of enlightenment.

[Matthew]

Rob,

I also use reminders. My mobile phone, when turned on says "Do it now."

Additionally I have a whiteboard which I use and constantly update to avoid procrastination.

Matthew

[Cilla]

http://blog.unlearningmeditation.com/2010/11/27/recollective-awareness--mindfulness.aspx

It really helps to know what mindfulness is and is not. This link clearly explains that thought is not part of mindfulness practice.

This is a good blog on it and will help clarify for anyone who is not too sure about it.

[Andrew]

The blog makes some good points, it is so true that 'mind objects' have become the poor cousin to sensations and the environment when clearly the buddha taught regard six senses (mind included) not five.

“When a Tathagata is pressed
three times, he has to answer. Listen carefully, Bahiya, and
attend to what I say:

In the seen, there is only the seen,
in the heard, there is only the heard,
in the sensed, there is only the sensed,
in the cognized, there is only the cognized.
Thus you should see that
indeed there is no thing here;
this, Bahiya, is how you should train yourself.
Since, Bahiya, there is for you
in the seen, only the seen,
in the heard, only the heard,
in the sensed, only the sensed,
in the cognized, only the cognized,
and you see that there is no thing here,
you will therefore see that
indeed there is no thing there.
As you see that there is no thing there,
you will see that
you are therefore located neither in the world of this,
nor in the world of that,
nor in any place
betwixt the two.
This alone is the end of suffering.” (ud. 1.10)

Upon hearing these words, Bahiya was immediately enlightened.

of course he had to leave out taste here, just to make my point harder to make....

Edit; and smell, but perhaps the bloke he was talking to couldn't smell or taste...

[Billymac629]

I don't agree with the blog... I can see where the author is trying to go with it, but I don't think it holds water... If one trains in a system that teaches a choiceless awareness, then there is no "one thing" to be mindful of the whole time.. Also if one can not be mindful of thoughts then one would never be amble to come back to his or her object of meditation... They would just continue in thought (allowing the monkey mind to run rampid)...
Also I believe it is in the suttas that the buddha taught to be mindful of the mind and the functions of the mind (one of them being thinking)...  I'm a firm believer that if you fight thoughts then they become a big distraction...
And back to the original post... I have my watch beeb every hour... That reminds me to take a mindful breath or check my body sensations or listen to sounds around me..sometimes I'll start walking meditation if I hear the beeb while walking..
Metta

[Andrew]

http://www.vipassanaforum.net/forum/index.php/topic,1818.msg19211.html#msg19211

his point is a bit jumbled, but at the end you can see he actually means to be aware of thoughts.

[Nam_aRupa]

when i find myself wanting something do be different than it is,
or want somebody else be different , then there is one line , one question,one reminder,  that is very powerful to me.
i ask myself "WHO wants this?"   it acts like a mirror that often pulls me out of self-identification.

its sort of a post-it in my brain ..

[Satipatthana]

when i find myself wanting something do be different than it is,
or want somebody else be different , then there is one line , one question,one reminder,  that is very powerful to me.
i ask myself "WHO wants this?"   it acts like a mirror that often pulls me out of self-identification.

its sort of a post-it in my brain ..

Excellent. Ever come up with the answer to that question?

 

[Nam_aRupa]

sati -  when the elements are aligned, there is ABSOLUTELY NO need for an answer.

and if..  then there is always a possibility to ask more questions. who wants an answer?
who is trying to figure something out. what is it, where is it ? - penetrating it, until the sky
clears.  You're saying describes it beautifully doesnt it.

[rob]

when i find myself wanting something do be different than it is,
or want somebody else be different , then there is one line , one question,one reminder,  that is very powerful to me.
i ask myself "WHO wants this?"   it acts like a mirror that often pulls me out of self-identification.

its sort of a post-it in my brain ..

Oh I'm totally stealing this So awesome.