In order to awaken from this trance, the Buddha recommended “mindfulness centered on the body.” In fact, he called physical sensations the first foundation of mindfulness because they are intrinsic to feelings and thoughts and are the base of the very process of consciousness. Because our pleasant or unpleasant sensations so quickly trigger a chain

From time to time, you feel tired, and everything you do or say seems to come out wrong and create misunderstanding. You may think, “Today is not my day.” At times like this, it is best simply to return to your body, cut off all contact, and close the doors of the senses. Following your breathing, you can collect your mind, body, and breath, and th

We simply notice it with bare attention and keep returning to the present moment by focusing on our breath, what is real right now. In mindfulness, we are so attentive to our thoughts and reactions that we see precisely where they lead and how they do or do not produce suffering for ourselves and others.