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Mindfulness Practitioner Course: Level I, Ii, Iii & Master The Attitudinal Foundations of Mindfulness

The document discusses the seven core attitudes of mindfulness practice: 1) non-judgmental attitude, 2) patience, 3) beginner's mind, 4) trust, 5) non-striving, 6) unconditional acceptance, and 7) faith and letting go. It explains each attitude in 1-2 sentences and emphasizes developing these attitudes to fully engage in mindfulness practice, which involves being present in the moment without judgments or striving. The attitudes serve as a foundation for mindfulness meditation.

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Eduardo Mello Lucena
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139 views5 pages

Mindfulness Practitioner Course: Level I, Ii, Iii & Master The Attitudinal Foundations of Mindfulness

The document discusses the seven core attitudes of mindfulness practice: 1) non-judgmental attitude, 2) patience, 3) beginner's mind, 4) trust, 5) non-striving, 6) unconditional acceptance, and 7) faith and letting go. It explains each attitude in 1-2 sentences and emphasizes developing these attitudes to fully engage in mindfulness practice, which involves being present in the moment without judgments or striving. The attitudes serve as a foundation for mindfulness meditation.

Uploaded by

Eduardo Mello Lucena
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MINDFULNESS

PRACTITIONER
COURSE

LEVEL I, II, III &


MASTER

THE ATTITUDINAL
FOUNDATIONS OF
MINDFULNESS
THE ATTITUDINAL FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS
Adapted from Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Simplicity. That word describes the starting point for the practice of
mindfulness. Practice means 'being in the present on purpose'.

The practice of mindfulness meditation involves no end destination. The means


and end do not differ. The simplicity of the practice requires more than a recipe or
a set of instructions. Our whole being must become involved. This is where
attitudes and commitment, come into play.

Attitudes involve intention. Intention sets the stage for what mindfulness can make
possible. This article concerns the seven core attitudes of mindfulness. 

ATTITUDE 1: A Non-Judgmental Attitude

- This requires taking the stance of an impartial witness to your own experience.
- You begin noticing the stream of judging mind .. good/bad/neutral ... not trying
to stop it but just being aware of it. 

ATTITUDE 2: The Attitude of Patience

- Letting things unfold in their own time.


- Practising patience with ourselves. Why be in such a hurry to get through some
moments to get to other ‘better’ ones? Each one is your life at that moment.”
- Being completely open to each moment, accepting its fullness, knowing that
things will emerge in their own time.

ATTITUDE 3: Adopting a Beginner’s Mind

- Too frequently we let our thinking and our beliefs about what we ‘know’ prevent
us from seeing things as they are in actuality.
- Cultivating a mind that is willing to view everything 'as if' for the very first time.
Being open to new possibilities... not getting stuck in a rut where we believe our
perspective is the only right one.
- Each moment is unique and holds unique opportunities. 
THE ATTITUDINAL FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS

ATTITUDE 4: An Attitude of Trust

- This involves developing a basic trust in ourselves and our feelings.


- Trusting in our own intuition and authority, even if we make several ‘mistakes’
along the way.
- This requires that we take responsibility for ourselves and our own wellbeing. 

ATTITUDE 5: The Attitude of Non-Striving

- Meditation has one goal - for you to be your authentic self. The irony is that you
already are. 
- Paying attention to how you are being right now; however that is. Just observe
and be true to this.
- The most effective way to achieve your own goals is to back off from striving
and instead start to focus on carefully seeing and accepting things as they are,
moment by moment. With practice and patience, movement towards your goals
will naturally occur by itself.

ATTITUDE 6: Unconditional Acceptance

- Seeing things as they are in the present. 


- We often waste a lot of time and energy denying what fact is. We often try to
force situations to how we would like them to be, which creates further tension
and prevents positive change from occurring.
- 'Now' is the only time we have for anything. You have to accept yourself as
imperfect, flawed in every way, before you can change. 
- Acceptance is not passive; it doesn't mean you have to like everything and give
up on your values and principles. It doesn't mean that you have to resign yourself
to just tolerating things. It doesn't mean that you should stop trying to break free
of self-sabotaging habits or abandon your desire to grow and change.
- Acceptance is a willingness to see things for how they are. You're much more
likely to know what to do and be able to follow your gut instinct when you have a
clear picture of what is actually happening.
THE ATTITUDINAL FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS

ATTITUDE 7: Faith and Letting Go

- Letting go is about letting things be and accepting things as they are.


- If we find it especially difficult to let go of something because it's got such a
strong hold on our mind, we can turn our attention to what ‘holding’ feels like.
Holding on is the complete opposite of letting go. Being open and willing to look
at the way we hold on to things shows a lot about its opposite. 
- We already know how to let go... every night when we go to sleep... we let go.

Summary of the Seven Core Attitudes of Mindfulness

- Non-judging – Suspending Judgment ... Just Watching Whatever Comes Up


- Patience – Not spitting the dummy (a Scottish saying).
- Beginner’s Mind – Seeing With 'Fresh Eyes'.
-Trust – No Imitations, Living Your Own Life, and Honouring Your Own Feelings,
Intuitions, Wisdom
- Non-striving – Mindfulness is a 'non-doing!'
- Acceptance – Having a Clear Picture & Coming to terms with how things really
are.
- Letting go – Not Clinging onto 'people or stuff'.

These qualities make up the seven Core Attitudes, which together serve as the
foundation for engagement in and practising mindfulness.

QUESTIONS FOR SELF-REFLECTION:

Qu1) How many of these attitudes can you identify in your own life (currently)?
THE ATTITUDINAL FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS

Qu2) How many of these attitudes would you like to improve in?

Qu3) What is one change of attitude you could make today that might benefit
yourself and other people in countless different ways?

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