Expert: Joe McSorley - 11/26/2005

Question
Joe, hope you're well.I know mindfullness and the whole idea of being fully present in the moment are ways of living and behaving which are to be embraced by Buddhists. Is there not the danger that being too obssesive about thinking all the time about your actions and what you are doing at any given time might drive you bananas! Is it healthy to be constantly thinking about  such things as  your every step, action, thought etc. in such depth? Best wishes and peace Patrick

Answer
Hi Patrick,
 Mindfulness has nothing to do with being obsessive or thinking.  It is not ‘thinkfulness' or ‘obsessive ness” they are talking about but mindfulness.  There is a huge difference.  Mindfulness is to be fully alert in the present without thought or cognition.  To be fully in the present one cannot think or be obsessive because thought cannot exist in the moment.  Mindfulness is very difficult to accomplish because it takes a lot of energy to do so.  You should not be in an internal dialogue with yourself saying, “ now I am walking, now I am eating” etc, rather, when you walk, only walk and when you eat, only eat, fully in the moment and completely alert.  This is freedom from knowing and from thought and not obsession with it.  This is apparent in some sports like mountain climbing.  Those who climb will tell you they have to live completely in the moment, fully aware or they will make a mistake and fall.  It's not that they obsess about that moment but that they are fully aware of everything they are doing in the moment.  This is what exhilarates them so and causes them to make statements like ‘ I never feel so alive as when I am climbing”.   They don't say ‘think about climbing' but actually climbing in the moment.  This is pure action and can be achieved in every day living through the practice of mindfulness.
 I hope this helps you.  Take care,
         Joe