One Should Be Mindful and Clearly Aware

Monks, a Monk should be mindful and clearly aware, this is my instruction to you.

And how is a Monk mindful?

Here, a Monk resides reflecting on the body as body, dedicated, clearly aware and mindful, having put aside craving and worry for the world, and likewise with regard to feelings, mind, and mental objects.

That is how a Monk is mindful.

And how is a Monk clearly aware?

Here, a Monk, when going forward or backward, is aware of what he is doing; in looking forward or back he is aware of what he is doing; in bending and stretching he is aware of what he is doing; in carrying his inner and outer robe and bowl he is aware of what he is doing; in eating, drinking, chewing and tasting he is aware of what he is doing; in passing excrement or urine he is aware of what he is doing; in walking, standing, sitting or lying down, in keeping awake, in speaking or in staying silent, he is aware of what he is doing.

That is how a Monk is clearly aware.

A Monk should be mindful and clearly aware, this is my instruction to you.

(Reference: DN 16)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares guidance to develop mindfulness (awareness of mind) and reside “clearly aware”.

He points to The Four Foundations of Mindfulness when he shares “here, a Monk resides reflecting on the body as body, dedicated, clearly aware, mindful and having put away all craving and worry for the world, and likewise with regard to feelings, mind, and mental objects”.

“Body as body” is referencing the bodily sensations a Practitioner needs to be aware of throughout daily life. He then shares the same “with regard to feelings, mind, and mental objects”. The Four Foundations of Mindfulness are bodily sensations, feelings, condition of the mind, and mental objects.

A Practitioner who trains the mind to have awareness of The Four Foundations of Mindfulness will be able to actively train the mind to eliminate discontentedness through applying Right Effort from The Eight Fold Path to ultimately develop Right Concentration.

A Practitioner needs to train the mind to “let go” of all craving/desire/attachment and no longer worry about the world. The Buddha explains this as “having put away all craving and worry for the world” as part of his Teachings on how to develop mindfulness.

Right Mindfulness is from The Eight Fold Path and matches his Teachings on developing this aspect of one’s life practice.

The Buddha’s guidance on being “clearly aware” involves ensuring the mind is aware of the mind during each daily task no matter how simple. He provides a list of simple daily tasks where a Practitioner needs to maintain their awareness of mind as it relates to The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in order to be “clearly aware”.