DEVELOPING EFFORT MINDFULNESS

EFFORT

Once more we begin by speaking of the two forms of Mindfulness, because it is very important to differentiate the two, particularly when both are so important to the Path.

We have said that there is a Mindfulness which is complete and actually functions at a conscious and an unconscious level and it is best to think of it as FULL ATTENTION. The second iss less complete, for it is only vailable to consciousness, but as a result of this specificity it can be directed effectively as a tool to consciously correct errors in comportment.

It is this DIRECT ATTENTVENESS that is perfect when considering the refraining of inapproprite behavior and is essential for the practicing of the Noble Eightfold Path suggested by Buddha.

Both FULL ATTENTION and DIRECT ATTENTIVENESS can be directed at:

BODY SENSES

DISCRIMINATION

PERCEPTION

CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE MIND

CONTENTS OF MIND

in the former case through Meditation, and in the latter through a conscious One-pointedness.

Energy is, of course, important and it flows through all the operations of a living system and in the case of the energy flow that we are discussing we can say that it flows through:

ATTITUDE, which sets the BASE of natural and correct behaviour

INTENTION, which generates the correct APPLICATION and DIRECTION of responses

EFFORT, which generates MOTIVATION

ACTION, which is the CONSEQUENCE of COGNITIVE FUNCTION

        This allows the final development of a response to any stimulus, be it internal or external.

       It is naturally susceptible to Identity interference and this is the cause of IMPEDIMENTS.

This energy flows from what we call the Life Force and carries with it, in circumstances which are liberated from impediments, the experiences of Gladness, Compassion, Benevolent Affect and Equanimity which can be experienced by Consciousness. 

This is not to be confused with the states generated by the mind, which are Identity flawed and promulgated by state, education and religion.  

       This Energy is a natural flow that is not mentally directed and as such is not ponderous.

It is when that Energy is converted in effort that it can be correctly APPLIED and SUSTAINED after One-Pointedness. 

                                                                    EFFORT

We said that Energy was used to pass the ATTITUDE and BELIEF SYSTEM information to cognition for response development. This energy rises in the natural and liberated person from the LIFE FORCE and in the stained temperament from the energy valence of IDENTITY.

Likewise, even greater energy is used in the actual generation of intentions, which involves a multitude of operations that are in great part subconscious energy. Once that final intention has been generated and confirmed then energy is required to transform that Intention into an Action.

If we examine the nature of that force, then we can distinguish the nature of its application.

While the energy of Attitude generates the FORM of the final response, the energy of Intention generates its DIRECTION and the energy of Effort generates the level of MOTIVATION applied.

It becomes clear then that the development here depends upon the focus of Motivation, which has when directed with natural positive impulses has the attributes of:

CALM

PATIENCE

DETERMINATION

PERSEVERANCE

Each of these then becomes a focus for the introspection upon EFFORT.

But in addition that focus is to detect if that EFFORT is directed correcty at:

Restraining present inappropriate intentions.

Restraining future inappropriate intentions.

Eliciting correct present intentions.

Eliciting correct future intentions.

Motivation that is acompanied by stress or tension indicates possible dissonance. It is therefore imperative to note any stress and tension with a view to examining possible COGNITIVE DISSONANCE.

IN CONSTRUCTION