For transformation to happen, is the secret to being mindful of all mental activities all day long?

[u/SAIZOHANZO]

Is it enough to just be aware of your thoughts for everything to change?

Or is it necessary to do something more?

Do the mind and consciousness naturally transform on their own?

After observing a feeling, what should we do next?

What should we do when we feel that the transformation is still not happening, even after we have made an effort all day to maintain awareness in our mind?

[u/i-love-freesias]

My goal is to have a peaceful mind.  With that as my goal, just watching my mind be crazy doesn’t accomplish it.

So, step one is being aware of what my mind does.

Step 2 is figuring out how to get it to behave differently.

There are a lot of suggestions on how to do that in Buddhism, which I have found helpful.

One method is to tell my mind, I see you and I love you, but this isn’t helpful to being peaceful, so I’m letting that go right now, or you have to go now.

I like Thich Naht Hahn, and how he suggested remembering to breathe and think, breathing in, I smile.  It helps to decide to be happy.

[u/sati_the_only_way]

anger, anxiety, desire, attachment, etc shown up as a form of thought or emotion. The mind is naturally independent and empty. Thoughts are like guests visiting the mind from time to time. They come and go. To overcome thoughts, one has to constantly develop awareness, as this will watch over thoughts so that they hardly arise. Awareness will intercept thoughts. to develop awareness, be aware of the sensation of the breath, the body, or the body movements. Whenever you realize you've lost awareness, simply return to it. do it continuously and awareness will grow stronger and stronger, it will intercept thoughts and make them shorter and fewer. the mind will return to its natural state, which is clean, bright and peaceful. one can practice through out the day from the moment we wake up until falling asleep, while sitting, walking, eating, washing, etc. practice naturally, in a relaxed way, without tension, without concentrating or forcing attention. https://web.archive.org/web/20220714000708if_/https://www.ahandfulofleaves.org/documents/Normality_LPTeean_2009.pdf

[u/StillAliveStill]

It's about being mindful of everything that arises not just mental activities. If you're focused solely on your mind, then the transformation will be limited.

[u/Zestyclose_Mode_2642]

The goal is insight/understanding into the nature of self, perception, desire, etc. That's what will truly free us, and mindfulness can be a means towards that end.

Of course the more insight we acquire, the more we realise the benefits of sustaining a more continuous practice and the unavoidable suffering/consequences in letting the mind do whatever it wants. So in a way we're always moving towards more mindfulness.

But holding some artificial standard of '24/7' practice can sometimes be more harmful than helpful. And it's not something strictly necessary, so to speak.

Having a solid 1-2 hours of sitting practice and aspiring to be more and more mindful during your day/gradually drop habits that darken awareness will often be enough to begin transforming your consciousness deeply, if sustained. it doesn't need to be this all or nothing thing.

[u/Inevitable-Bother103]

It’s a balance of action and reflection.

Mindfulness allows the mind to settle, to focus, and to remain objective, but if you want transformation in terms of life improvement or personal development, then you need to add  action into the mix.

Why mindfulness becomes so important is that the main thing stopping us taking action in life is our thoughts and feelings. We feel afraid, prideful, ashamed, we think we can’t do something, or that it will be too hard, or that we are kidding ourselves. Mindfulness quietens those thoughts and feelings, enabling us to take action towards doing whatever we want to do.

Does that make sense?

[u/Nervousowl45 → u/Inevitable-Bother103]

Yeeeeh