How To Develop Mindfulness

Book Review: Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hanh
Part – III How to develop mindfulness

We think that if we can obtain a certain thing, we will be happy. But when we get them, we continue to crave and suffer.
Fame, sex, power and wealth are the four kinds of bait that have a hook. If you are motivated by any of the desire, your destiny is suffering.
To love each other does not mean we sit and look at each other. It means we look in the same direction.
Do not try to be someone else.

To be beautiful means to be yourself.
You need to accept yourself.

Meditate to cultivate POWER.
Meditations consist of two things.

The first element is stopping....calming the mind...and concentration.
The second is looking deeply to get insight.

All you need to do is mindful breathing, mindful walking, mindful smiling, mindful eating and total relaxation.

Now, what is mindful breathing?

To practice mindful breathing recite following:
In, out
Deep, slow
Calm, ease
Smile, release
The present moment, wonderful moment

Breathing in, I know I am breathing in.
Breathing out, I know I am breathing out.
You take your mind off everything else and concentrate on breathing.
This is the first exercise.
Don't try to make anything happen.
All by itself, your breathing becomes slower, more relaxed and soothing.

After practising mindful breathing, you may try walking, smiling, eating and total relaxation.

Now whatever has happened, this problem or that event, you will not lose your happiness and peace. The energy of awakening is within you.

Well, I will not end the story without telling you the summary:

Actually, the book shows us powers other than we actually were knowing. All we want is happiness and peace, it is not outside, but lies within. We can get what we want if we can be mindful, be in the present tense TOTALLY.