The Noble Eightfold Path: Proper Mindfulness - The Second of the Three Mental Development Aspects of the Path

Proper Mindfulness is an essential quality in everyone's daily life. It's a mental factor that enables us to remember, and to keep our awareness and attention on, what is beneficial in terms of thoughts, words, and deeds.

When we awake we can determine for this day to try not to harm other Living Beings or other things. We can determine to do our best, in even the smallest of ways, to benefit others.

The Mind must constantly be aware of what is happening for neither mishap nor misgivings to occur.

Proper Mindfulness is necessary if one is to progress towards Wisdom and Compassion and Awakening. The Mind must be protected against distraction. Greed and anger should be consciously avoided. Attention is given to the Mind because it is through the Mind that everything is comprehended, interpreted, and understood.

If lasting happiness is to be attained, the undisciplined Mind should be tamed.

To tame the Mind is to tame the World.