Henepola Gunaratana Quote
Mindfulness is a broader and larger function than concentration. it is an all-encompassingfunction. Concentration is exclusive. It settles down on one item and ignores everythingelse. Mindfulness is inclusive. It stands back from the focus of attention and watches witha broad focus, quick to notice any change that occurs. If you have focused the mind on astone, concentration will see only the stone. Mindfulness stands back from this process,aware of the stone, aware of the concentration focusing on the stone, aware of theintensity of that focus and instantly aware of the shift of attention when concentration isdistracted. It is mindfulness which notices the distraction which has occurred, and it ismindfulness which redirects the attention to the stone.
Mindfulness is a broader and larger function than concentration. it is an all-encompassingfunction. Concentration is exclusive. It settles down on one item and ignores everythingelse. Mindfulness is inclusive. It stands back from the focus of attention and watches witha broad focus, quick to notice any change that occurs. If you have focused the mind on astone, concentration will see only the stone. Mindfulness stands back from this process,aware of the stone, aware of the concentration focusing on the stone, aware of theintensity of that focus and instantly aware of the shift of attention when concentration isdistracted. It is mindfulness which notices the distraction which has occurred, and it ismindfulness which redirects the attention to the stone.