What, if anything, do the texts say about habits versus mindulfness?
Upvote:0
The question here epitomizes the corruptions found in contemporary Buddhism created by a misunderstanding of the noble path & using meditation for self-administered psychotherapy.
The Pali suttas do not refer to mindfulness as "the paying attention to every passing moment", regardless of the contents of those moments. 'Mindfulness' ('sati') is not the act of 'observing' ('anupassi') or 'paying attention' ('manasikara'). Instead, the Pali suttas refer to 'mindfulness' ('sati') as the act of 'remembering'; of keeping/ maintaining (wholesome) path factors in the mind & excluding unwholesome things from the mind.
Also, 'vipassana' is not the observing of impermanence in a way that has no calming effect on the mind. When genuine 'vipassana' ('insight') occurs, the habitual mental effluents are destroyed via 'disenchantment' ('nibbidā') & 'dispassion' ('virāga'), making the mind completely pacified ('nirodha').
Once the mind reaches the 2nd jhana, mindfulness becomes automatic, i.e., the mind trains itself to do certain things without having to consciously (volitionally) pay attention, i.e. act.
Mindfulness is only a means to an end rather than an end in itself. Its purpose is the development of a kind of "mind-less-ness"; just the purpose of saving money via working is retirement. That being so, there is no apparent conflict that needs to be resolved.
One is mindful to abandon wrong view & to enter & remain in right view: This is one's right mindfulness. MN 117
The monk... remains focused on the body in & of itself... mindfully putting aside greed & distress with reference to the world. MN 118
Upvote:1
The Noble Eightfold Path speaks about both of these.
Habits = Right Effort
- Stop bad habits
- Continuing to stop bad habits
- Creating good habits
- Continuing to cultivate good
Whereas Right Mindfulness involves more momentary concentration, momentary mindfulness to check up and make sure that the Right Efforts are happening.
They are not mutually exclusive although theoretically speaking, either of these things cultivated to an extreme could obviate the need to do the other.
Upvote:2
Some modern references:
- Conscious, preconscious, unconscious, subconscious by Piya Tan
- Viññāṇa (Consciousness) by Piya Tan
- Unconscious Views by Piya Tan
- The Unconscious by Piya Tan
- Anusaya by Piya Tan
Suttas:
There many more Tipitaka references bibliography of the essays.
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