Reference: The 12 Aspects of Mindfulness
Mindfulness provides the discipline for looking and contemplation.
You may do this exercise while sipping coffee in a café, or strolling along a river. You may even find a place where you can sit comfortably for a while without being disturbed. Then patiently observe the world go by.
In order to practice the earlier steps of mindfulness you will have to let your mind associate data freely. This exercise simply emphasizes this point. Mindfulness is observing the very activity of thinking itself. So observe the mind associating data freely on its own.
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MINDFULNESS 9: Associate data freely.
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Observe as usual. Notice the environment and other people.
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Let the mind associate that data freely on its own.
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Let the mind present data. Do not interfere with the mind.
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Observe how the mind is doing all this thinking.
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Practice each aspect of mindfulness that you have learned so far while associating data freely.
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Expand your span of attention and let the perceptions pour in.
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Let the realizations present themselves to you without you making any effort.
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Use your own judgment as to when to end a session.
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Develop this exercise to a point where you may execute it even while interacting socially with others. Keep observing patiently while letting the mind associate data freely. Many things may come up naturally to be scrutinized. Simply observe them and become aware of them without effort.
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