The Difference

there is a certain misconception particularly in West regarding mindfulness. This misconception has lead to proliferation of many organizations and websites that speak of Mindfulness Meditation from a purely somatic perspective. They say that those who do mindfulness meditation based on their guidance and watching to their you tube films can achieve better financial gains, progress in job, mundane happiness, good family life etc. But they have no mention of the greater objective of mindfulness meditation, of cleansing the consciousness of defiling that burden a person leading to mental stress. Of course there are peripheral benefits like better health and that can lead to more domestic happiness and even in job or business. But the inner core is what is more important and that is ability to be here and now. Mindfulness Meditation with breathing observation enables one to slowly build the inner mental strength and with that gradually eradicate the mental stress so you have a better life in all aspects. You should try meditation in morning hours around 00.30 AM as that is the best time when there is less radiation even in atmosphere. The first phase is to sit comfortably and aware of your body position and the slowly focus on your in and out breath. Try to bring that mindfulness to the motion of air without giving it any stain. Once you have come to the point where you are mindful of the breath you will note that at times the breath is short and at times long. Be mindful of such situations and slowly you begin to lose sense-perception of the motion of air through nostrils. It is here that some people get afraid thinking they have stopped breathing and struggle to come out. Do not worry but keep observing. Then slowly you will feel tactile sensations gradually spreading around your somatic body and increase in intensity. Observe those too without any reaction. With time you will realize that your breathing is no more perceived by you. Then you begin to observe that this process is not unique to you only but common to all beings who breathe. Then you see yourself in this process and also realize other too of being same and you begin to dissolve this perception of a self and the self conceit. Your breath is no more perceived and you are still but the breath is in motion though you do not feel. Then you see with wisdom the arising and ceasing of phenomena which are both physical and mental and you understand those are phenomena and you will not try to own those as you used to do before meditation saying that is my thought or that is my feeling and so on. This arising and ceasing is the principle of ultimate liberation. indeed you will not know that often you may have spent over 2 hours or even more time in meditation but you never knew the motion of time as was earlier. May you all be peaceful and happy. With metta.