On the difference between mindfulness and meditation

Meditation in a broad sense is the general name of all mental exercises that actively regulate attention. Mindfulness is an independent branch of meditation, and the two are related to inclusion and inclusion. Of course, this conclusion is also controversial at present. Some traditional mindfulness practitioners think that mindfulness is an independent lifestyle and does not belong to meditation, which we will discuss later.

When I first came into contact with mental exercises, I couldn't figure out the boundary between them. The year before last, I signed up for a class called Kabajin's Stress Relief (MBSR). When I opened the door, I saw everyone sitting cross-legged on the futon, lighting aromatherapy and playing light music. On the spot, I thought I had signed up for the wrong meditation class, and I didn't find out the actual difference between them until I practiced for three times. I am afraid that everyone will be as confused as I was at the beginning. I have compiled a comparison table at the practical level, all of which are my real feelings after practicing for five years, not copying the contents of textbooks:

Oh, yes, the controversy just mentioned is also very interesting. At present, many consultants who do mindfulness cognitive therapy (MBCT) are very disgusted with putting mindfulness in the category of meditation. I talked to a friend who is doing clinical work before, and she rolled her eyes and said, "Now meditation on the market is almost becoming a relaxation artifact. When people mention meditation, they think of helping sleep and emptying, but mindfulness doesn't let you relax at all-when you are anxious, you may feel that discomfort more clearly and you can't relax at all, but this awareness can keep you from being dragged away by anxiety, which is the core role of mindfulness.

In fact, this statement is also very reasonable. I stayed up for two nights last week to catch up with the project. On Wednesday afternoon, I sat at my workstation with my heart pounding, and my mind was full of the idea that I would be scolded if I didn't finish it. At that time, I didn't have time to find a meeting room to sit down and meditate, so I spent 30 seconds standing by the water cooler to practice mindfulness: I realized that my shoulders and neck were stiff and my heart was beating fast, and my mind was turning to the death of the project repeatedly. I didn't force myself to "Don't think about it." I don't think so. After all, I stood by the water cooler and met my colleague who came to fish and said hello, but this is indeed a standard mindfulness exercise.

I have seen some institutions sell mindfulness and meditation in two grades before, saying that mindfulness is "advanced meditation" and it costs twice as much, while purity is IQ tax. Don't be fooled. In fact, for ordinary practitioners, there is no need to cling to the definition of the boundary between the two: if you have not slept well recently, go find a sleep-helping meditation audio to listen to, without worrying about whether it is "authentic"; If it is always easy to get caught up in past regrets or future worries, don't brush your mobile phone when eating, have a good taste of the sweetness of rice, don't always think about work when walking, and feel the touch of the wind blowing across your face. These free exercises are much more useful than a few hundred dollars of online celebrity class.

Whether it's mindfulness or meditation, what can make your life more stretched is good things.