[Avodah] Mindfulness...

[Richard Wolpoe]

On Nov 16, 2007 5:31 AM, Allen Gerstl <acgerstl at hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>
>
> On Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:48:37 -0800 (PST)
> R' Yonatan Kaganoff
> Wrote: Subject: [Avodah] Mindfulness and Being Present in the Moment
>
> >I was talking to my wife the other week about the following question
> >and wanted to ask the members of the list if they had any ideas about
> >it.
>
> >Are Mindfulness or "Being Present in the Moment" Jewish values?
>
>
See Avos 3:9  "hamafsik mitalmudo .... mischaveyiv benafsho"

There are all kinds of interpretations on this text

The simple read is whilst learning one should not be distracted by  external
events  Who is this Mischayeiv beNafsho?  When a surgeon is not mindful, he
could cost a life. Same for a driver of an auto.

My day school rebbe told us there is a different about complaining about the
room being too hot/cold at the BEGINNING of the Shiur and in the middle.

If one complains at the beginning - FINE
When one complains in the middle it means he is distracted.

OTOH, [unlike say l'havdil in ZEN]  I don't see mindfulness as an end in
itself, rather a means to an end.

-- 
Kol Tuv / Best Regards,
RabbiRichWolpoe at Gmail.com
Please Visit:
http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/
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