From the Introduction As I consider what to say about mindfulness, I experience a challenge: to express in words what is so utterly simple, neither a magic quick fix nor a miracle cure, but rather a deep well of possibilities worth a lifetime of exploration. Also, I like the phrases "being aware" and "being awake" because they are more commonly understood and, unlike what often befalls "mindfulness," avoid the categories of buzzword and cliché. Here are a few descriptive statements, culled from my own experience as well as the masters.' Mindfulness is Paying full attention to what is going on right now by staying in the present moment A balanced observation of what is, without criticism or judgment Noticing the changes happening in and around you An awake and aware participation in life We all have experienced mindfulness, but chances are those experiences are fairly infrequent because of the constant state of distraction in which we live. Some examples: Mindfulness is the moment when you're out walking and suddenly see a deer, before you react, when it's just you and the deer--no thinking, no fear, no judging. It's an uncontaminated moment of attention. You are mindful. Another example, from Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Buddhist monk, who spoke so eloquently about washing dishes: When you are washing the dishes, simply wash the dishes, noticing the warm soapy water, the hardness of the plate, the act of cleaning .

That's all. Attend to what you are doing. Mindful. There is the moment of mindfulness when you look into the eyes of the woman behind the counter as she gives you change and you smile and say thank you. At that moment you are present to her, acknowledging a relationship, even if it's fleeting; your attention, your appreciation is on her. In that moment you are mindful. Mindfulness is noticing the subtle change in your spouse's demeanor this morning as you look across the breakfast table, and not just continuing to eat your cereal or read the paper-- not noticing, or worse, pretending not to notice. Mindfulness: Being aware of and paying attention to the present moment as much as possible, non-judgmentally, in order to notice changes and be awake to its true meaning.

Mindfulness prevents us from missing life, from reaching life's end with the sad realization that the deepest human experiences have passed us by. Now is all we have; the past is gone, the future is not yet. Just now.