We introduce the concept of “mindfulness,” which is the standard translation of the Pāli word sati. Sati literally means “memory,” and mindfulness refers to the act of remembering the present. We find the same meaning in railway station signs that exhort us to “Mind the gap,” to remember to be aware, now. The practice of mindfulness is associated with the felt continuity of awareness, and this is what we are aiming for in our practice.
This morning we examine the nature of meditation itself, seeing it in terms of awareness, attention and method. We explore the nature of awareness, and how attention structures the field of awareness. From there, we look at issues in developing a meditation method.
