Reddit mentions of The Foundations of Mindfulness: How to Cultivate Attention, Good Judgment, and Tranquility

Hey! Sure, I'll try to give some pointers on the matter :) Right now I can't think of any other resources than what's most likely been posted here, meaning the ADA guide over on Dreamviews. That's my reference point/guide when it comes to expanding mindfulness in everyday life.

First of all, from what you write you seem to be on the good way of becoming mindful throughout the day - take some credit for that! I'm curious how you were approaching ADA before? With respect to that, if your subjective experience of mindfulness doesn't correspond entirely to a book or someone's description then it doesn't mean that you're doing it wrong.

I can recommend the book I mentioned earlier: Eric Harrison - The foundations of mindfulness. I haven't read anything else by that author but at least in that book he has a down to earth, approachable way of writing and explaining meditation.

One of the main take aways from the book was that meditation and mindfulness can mean differerent things depending from which Buddhist tradition you are looking at it. The most widespread conception of meditation nowadays comes from Tibbetan "Mahayana" Buddhism which advocates a non-judgemental approach to life and events. Harrison advocates the Burmese "Theravada" interpretation of Buddhism which, according to him, is a closer interpretation of the original texts and is more actionable and applicable to improvement of one's self-awareness and improvement.

Now I regard mindfulness as an activity - something that you actively will and then move on to do. Before I thought of mindfulness as a state of mind, as being relaxed and empty of thoughts. It is noticing several aspects of your self throughout the day.

Anyhow, in the Theravada tradition both meditation and minfulness are considered as active practices of attention geared towards:

• Mindfulness of your body: which you can do by paying attention to your breath and bodily sensations. He suggests starting out with seated meditation but then slowly training yourself to meditate while lying down, standing and walking as to expand the opportunities when you can meditate.
  
  
• Mindfulness of your emotions: which you can do by paying attention of how you feel regarding certain things, actions, events. Harrison writes that we attribute either pleasant or unpleasant emotions to things throughout the day. Noticing when we attribute pleasant and unpleasant emotional value to things helps you gain some distance from the object and increase your awareness of both its impact on yourself and your reaction to it.
  
  I am currently processing the following two and they do blur into each other at times but I'll give short quotes from Harrison, since he is the author of the book.
  
  
• Mindfulness of states of mind:
  
  > How does a monk contemplate his states of mind? He recognises the mind that is caught in desire and the mind free of desire. He recognises the mind that is caught in anger and the mind free of anger. He recgonises the mind that is caught in delusion and the mind free of delusion.
  
  
• Mindfulness of thought:
  
  > How does a monk live fully conscious and in control of his thoughts? He contemplates the five aggregate parts that make up his sense of self. He understands how the body, perceptions, feelings, action tendencies and consciousness arise and pass away.
  
  Hope I answered at least some of your question! And again, this is only my beginner interpretation of a pretty humongous subject, if there are others more adept in mindfulness I would welcome their correction!