Mechanism of Mindfulness

We can be mindful, what is mind? (Back to Contents)
Mindfulness, it's obviously an exercise with the Mind. Meditation is something we do with the mind. What really is Mind? And what are we doing to it in meditation?
Some describe the mind as Consciousness. Some try to explain mind as
Consciousness and sub-Consciousness. When it comes to a matter like Mind, words can be deceiving. Words are generally for things that we have come to know before.
When somebody says mind is Consciousness we are naturally inclined to feel that we know what consciousness or mind really is. In reality, the word consciousness leaves a very vague impression in our comprehension as it relate to the entity we call Mind. Just do a quick reflection and see how much you know of the Mind. Don't be surprised how vague the norm is.
To develop mindfulness along the lines of a Buddha, let's make an effort to understand the mind as taught by a Buddha. Many general philosophical ideas of mind explains it as a process that helps in reasoning, thinking, making decisions and judgments and what start an intention.
Buddha too teaches it as a process rather than an object. He goes much further with his characteristic simplicity. His explanations of Mind dose not further complicate our understanding of it. His explanation of Mind helps us perceive the non-matter entity in pristine clarity instead of a vague idea or imagination we may have now.
Three specific characteristics of mind as taught by the Buddha can ignite an understanding of ourselves and the mind like never before.