(320 words, 2mts. of reading time)

Mindfulness is the art of being fully immersed in the present, creating a peaceful space exclusively reserved for the self. In this space, every moment is tied to the now—unshaken by distractions—where body, mind, and breath cohere seamlessly. It’s the simple yet profound awareness of the in-breath and out-breath, flowing in perfect harmony with life.

At its core, mindfulness is about being present with oneself, letting the world’s noise fade into the background. It’s a practice of profoundly sensing and feeling without the baggage of judgment or interpretation. Rooted in ancient Buddhist tradition, mindfulness gained modern prominence through the teachings of Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, who popularized it in the 1970s. Hanh, who passed away in 2022, often emphasized the essence of mindfulness: living in the here and now. In his book You Are Here, he offered a simple yet powerful technique—acknowledge each breath by repeating, “I’m breathing in; this is an in-breath. I’m breathing out; this is an out-breath.”

For Hanh, peace, happiness, and love exist only in this present moment. Mindfulness slightly differs from traditional meditation as it doesn’t require quiet sitting or closed eyes. It can be practiced at any time—whether washing dishes or cycling on a treadmill. The idea is to fully focus on the activity at hand.

Contrary to misconceptions, mindfulness is not about detaching from the world. It allows one to remain connected to the surrounding environment without being disturbed by it. It sharpens the essential human ability to stay present—aware of where and what we’re doing—while avoiding the emotional reactivity that often overwhelms us.

In short, mindfulness is the subtle art of being fully here, fully alive.

-Promod Puri