How to be mindful while reading or studying

On the cultivation of insight/wisdom
Kaung Zaw
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How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by Kaung Zaw »

Hello,
Can anyone please advice that how should we mindful while we are reading or studying?
I’m confused as mindfulness practice is the awareness of whatever you are doing or thinking in the present moment and it is an intellectual task (in my opinion), but when we are reading or studying, it is also an intellectual task. So how these two intellectual tasks can work at the same time? E.g. if I am studying, I need to memorize the subject and at the same time I have to be aware that I’m studying, is it correct?
Many thanks.
P.S it is clear to me that we can be mindful of other non intellectual activities such as walking, breathing, sitting, cleaning dishes, pain and anger etc.
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robertk
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by robertk »

It's like when paying respects in front of a Buddha image. Sometimes other thoughts come in.

In the same way when readibg a book: moments of reflection on Dhamma, or even direct insight, can slip in..
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DooDoot
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by DooDoot »

Kaung Zaw wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 11:20 amCan anyone please advice that how should we mindful while we are reading or studying?
Buddhist mindfulness or Right Mindfulness means remembering to maintain the mind in a state of Right View. Therefore, if you are reading, mindfulness ensures you are reading wholesome & beneficial material. Similarly, if you are studying, mindfulness ensures you are studying what is wholesome, beneficial, ethical and accords with Right Livelihood.
Kaung Zaw wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 11:20 am mindfulness practice is the awareness of whatever you are doing or thinking in the present moment
The above is not Buddhist mindfulness. For example, being aware of killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, taking drugs, etc, in the present moment is not mindfulness practise. Buddhist mindfulness means remembering to maintain the mind in a state of Right View. Refer to MN 117 and SN 46.3.

:smile:
Last edited by DooDoot on Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

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coconut
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by coconut »

Yep, OP is confusing Mindfulness for Sampajanna. Both are needed, but they are not the same thing.
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DooDoot
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by DooDoot »

coconut wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:40 pm Yep, OP is confusing Mindfulness for Sampajanna. Both are needed, but they are not the same thing.
Like you are confusing Sampajanna.
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

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coconut
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by coconut »

DooDoot wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:41 pm
coconut wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:40 pm Yep, OP is confusing Mindfulness for Sampajanna. Both are needed, but they are not the same thing.
Like you are confusing Sampajanna.
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu exercise clear comprehension? Here, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu feelings are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Thoughts are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Perceptions are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu exercises clear comprehension.
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DooDoot
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by DooDoot »

coconut wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:45 pm
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu exercise clear comprehension? Here, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu feelings are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Thoughts are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Perceptions are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu exercises clear comprehension.
Yes, "understood", with wisdom. :roll:

There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

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coconut
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by coconut »

DooDoot wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:50 pm
coconut wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:45 pm
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu exercise clear comprehension? Here, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu feelings are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Thoughts are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Perceptions are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu exercises clear comprehension.
Yes, "understood", with wisdom. :roll:

So you disagree with your own interpretation from last year? https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/ques ... sampajanna
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DooDoot
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by DooDoot »

Whatever the above means, sounds like you are confused again. :smile:
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

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coconut
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by coconut »

DooDoot wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:57 pm
Whatever the above means, sounds like you are confused again. :smile:
Sure
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DooDoot
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by DooDoot »

coconut wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:58 pm Sure
Mere awareness of "whatever you are doing" in the present moment is not sampajanna. For example, being aware of killing in the present moment is not sampajana. Sampajana is situational wisdom or right view.
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

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coconut
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by coconut »

DooDoot wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 2:00 pm
coconut wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:58 pm Sure
Mere awareness of "whatever you are doing" in the present moment is not sampajanna. For example, being aware of killing in the present moment is not sampajana. Sampajana is situational wisdom or right view.
You are confusing sampajanna with sati-sampajanna

Sampajanna alone is awareness of the arising, persisting, and passing of an object.
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DooDoot
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by DooDoot »

coconut wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 2:08 pm You are confusing sampajanna with sati-sampajanna
You are the confused one (as posted several times).
coconut wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 2:08 pmSampajanna alone is awareness of the arising, persisting, and passing of an object.
No. Sampajjana means "understanding", as you quoted.
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu exercise clear comprehension? Here, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu feelings are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Thoughts are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Perceptions are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu exercises clear comprehension.
:broke: :hello:
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.

https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
coconut
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by coconut »

DooDoot wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 2:16 pm
coconut wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 2:08 pm You are confusing sampajanna with sati-sampajanna
You are the confused one (as posted several times).
coconut wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 2:08 pmSampajanna alone is awareness of the arising, persisting, and passing of an object.
No. Sampajjana means "understanding", as you quoted.
And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu exercise clear comprehension? Here, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu feelings are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Thoughts are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. Perceptions are understood as they arise, understood as they remain present, understood as they pass away. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu exercises clear comprehension.
:broke: :hello:
:strawman: you're arguing against an irrelevant point

My point was that the view/morality aspect is different from the awareness/knowing aspect.

Hence your quote
For example, being aware of killing in the present moment is not sampajana.
Knowing/understanding that killing is bad requires sati, and therefore right view.

Knowing/understanding that killing has happened does not require sati, and is only sampajanna.

Hence, you confuse sampajanna with morality (sati + right view).
SteRo
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Re: How to be mindful while reading or studying

Post by SteRo »

Kaung Zaw wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2021 11:20 am Hello,
Can anyone please advice that how should we mindful while we are reading or studying?
I’m confused as mindfulness practice is the awareness of whatever you are doing or thinking in the present moment and it is an intellectual task (in my opinion), but when we are reading or studying, it is also an intellectual task. So how these two intellectual tasks can work at the same time? E.g. if I am studying, I need to memorize the subject and at the same time I have to be aware that I’m studying, is it correct?
Many thanks.
P.S it is clear to me that we can be mindful of other non intellectual activities such as walking, breathing, sitting, cleaning dishes, pain and anger etc.
Basically and generally you are mindful of a teaching or an insight (=frame of reference) which you apply to the present, i.e. you understand the present from the perspective of the frame of reference you are being mindful of. With reference to Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (MN 10) there are four frames of reference: body, feelings, mind, mental qualities but it may be other frames, too, like the mentioned right view or all teachings covering what should be done and what shouldn't be done that are then applied to the present.
So it depends on what you are reading and studying.
Applying a non-buddhist context to the secular activity of reading and studying at university could be: you are mindful of the curriculum while reading and studying, so that when you are reading in a book you identify "this belongs to that item of the curriculum" or "that does not belong to the curriculum".
Cleared. αδόξαστος.
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