Summary

The article humorously explores the concept of Mind Fullness, particularly the paradox of practicing mindfulness while having an empty stomach, and questions the compatibility of focused attention and intrusive thoughts.

Abstract

The article titled "How Useful is Mind Fullness on an Empty Stomach?" delves into the paradoxical nature of language and words in the context of the Mind Fullness movement. The author, who has been meditating for 27 years, reflects on the challenge of maintaining focused attention during meditation, especially when confronted with an empty stomach. The narrative humorously oscillates between the author's attempts at mindfulness, the intrusion of thoughts, and the practical example of grating carrots while being presentable and present. The author muses on the advice of Amelia Earhart and Eckhart Tolle, and ultimately concludes that despite the confusion, the practice of mindfulness is enriching, even if it's not fully understood.

Opinions

The author finds the term "Mind Fullness" to be a playful oxymoron, highlighting the paradox of trying to empty the mind while it is naturally full of thoughts.
There is skepticism about the abundance of self-help literature, with the author preferring e-books to avoid physical clutter, yet acknowledging the questionable quality of much of this content.
The author values the act of meditation and has a long-standing practice but admits to struggling with keeping their mind from wandering.
There is a humorous acknowledgment of the difficulty in mastering advanced meditation techniques like levitation, especially considering the author's age and weight.
The author believes in living in the moment, as advised by Amelia Earhart, and applies this philosophy to everyday tasks like preparing a salad, while also poking fun at the idea of being "presentable."
There is a light-hearted critique of the Mind Fullness movement, suggesting that it may overcomplicate the simple act of being attentive to the present moment.
The author expresses gratitude for the simple pleasure of a completed task and a satisfied stomach, finding internal contentment in the act of mindful eating.

How Useful is Mind Fullness on an Empty Stomach?

Oxymoron or paradox?

What’s in a carrot? (Source: Alexas Fotos on Pixabay)

Trying to figure out Life is hard enough without figures of speech.

Although LAWs (Language and Words) are how we communicate they are subject to many interpretations within the language itself. That’s why we have LAWMAKERs (Language and Words Manipulated and Kept Eternally Recondite.)

Recondite is a silly name for esoteric.

(Rambling Rose has left the building.)

Today’s topcoat (just vocalize the noun and swallow the oat) is

(drum roll)

Mind Fullness

I’ve been reading a ton of self-help books since I can no longer afford therapy.

They were e-books so I’m not responsible for any defenestration. No, that was not a typo. I didn’t throw them out the window — I deleted them from Windows.

And I’m not responsible for any missing trees — I don’t eat Brazilian beef.

There’s a heap of crap out there and if they were print books, I’d have used the pages to wipe up the mess. But they weren’t, so I didn’t.

Now, over the past few years this Mind Fullness movement has invaded cyberspace and has made jest appearances on this platform too.

I should mention that I’ve been meditating for 27 years but am always curious and willing to learn anything new to do with my Mind.

It’s always wandering off track.

Like now.

I haven’t yet mastered levitating. Trying to hover above the ground at my age and weight is a gravity-defying feat that I should probably abandon.

Another lesson in letting go.

If I carry on in this way the only thing left for me to let go of will be my sanity.

When I meditate, I sit with my hands folded on a chair. (Shabby sentence structure!)

When I meditate, I sit on a chair and fold my hands in my lap. (Satisfied?)

I close my eyes. (You can’t fault me here.)

I breathe. Well, if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here.

I do pranayama breathing through my nostrils. But I skip the two-minute preparation when my nose is blocked or I wouldn’t still be here.

I engage silently with my mantra and off I go.

Thoughts disappear and my mind is filled with emptiness, not counting the mantra.

I love being empty-headed.

But I’m battling to grasp this concept of Mind Fullness.

Amelia Earhart said we have to live in the moment.

My dear, she was a pilot who disappeared in 1937.

You mean someone plagiarized her plane?

No, some germane guy called Eckhart Tolled us to be presentable.

Anyway, I was grating carrots for a salad the other evening.

I was presentable in jeans and a T-shirt. So those parts are covered.

I was following the instructions to focus on the carrots and the grater — good.

Much like if I’m picking my nose, I should give that my full attention and not worry if anyone’s watching.

(Let me assure you I do not pick my nose when grating carrots.)

Because of my arthritic hands, I pay special attention anyway when using knives, graters and vegetable peelers.

But this time was different.

I was thinking whether I was paying attention. Now, when you think, thoughts enter your head. Once they arrive, you can’t ignore them.

I was still grating but thinking whether Mind Fullness allows you to fill your head with thoughts at the same time.

Do I have to choose between carrots and cognition?

Do I stop grating or desist in deliberating?

While my mind was rambling, my stomach was rumbling.

They only way I could empty my mind would be to meditate. But that presented a problem as I’d have to close my eyes. And I was hungry.

“The day is coming when a single carrot, freshly observed, will set off a revolution.” — Paul Cezanne

With that encouragement from Paul, I kept my eyes wide open and watched what I was doing.

Mind Fullness be damned.

I’ll never understand.

The salad was complete. My stomach was replete.

I’m internally grateful!

Thank you for reading to the end.