Mindfulness – the single pointed meditation
When I try to meditate, my thoughts first start running completely wild.
Does that happen to you too? Very good! You are already on the first of nine stages towards the one-pointed mind.
Mindfulness – or Shiné, as it is called in Tibetan – is the foundation of all meditation. It is not about having no thoughts. It is first of all about noticing how much you are actually thinking all the time, and slowly – stage by stage – developing an ever clearer focus.
Shiné is one of the most profound Tibetan meditation techniques. It is the deepest mindfulness, the calmest and most stable mind. When the mind is truly calm, we are capable of incredible things. We can concentrate completely – without any tension, without distraction from the millions of thoughts and emotions we experience in any given moment. But at the beginning we first experience our “monkey mind” in full force, as one thought chases the next. Step by step we arrive at deep calm and true mindfulness. This mental focus, this stillness, helps in daily life, in all activities, and forms the foundation of all meditation.
This practice comes from Tibetan Buddhism and was adapted for Western people by Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche. It is simple to learn – and yet profound in its effect.
What mindfulness meditation does:
- The mind becomes calmer and clearer
- Stress and tension ease
- You learn to be in the present moment
- Negative thought patterns become recognisable – and changeable
- Compassion for yourself and others grows
I teach mindfulness meditation in courses and workshops – online and in Barcelona. If you have any questions or would simply like to try it out, feel free to get in touch.