ThirstyFish

Consciousness, the awareness of one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, at first seems like an easy concept to grasp. But as psychologist Stuart Sutherland has defined in Macmillan Dictionary of Psychology (1989), "Consciousness is a fascinating but elusive phenomenon: it is impossible to specify what it is, what it does, or why it has evolved. Nothing worth reading has been written on it". Consciousness, to our best understanding, is limited to the present moment. We are only conscious here and now.

According to scientific literature, "nonjudgmentally paying attention to the present moment, or mindfulness, is useful in the treatment and management of pain, stress, anxiety, depressive relapse, eating disorders, and addiction. It has been shown that mindfulness practice improves the immune system and aids in faster recovery from a negative experience. Yet very few of us know how to "exist in the present". We live in anxiety, constantly worried about the future, and we are haunted by our memories of the past. Our minds are in a way, semipermeable. When the world around us begins to crumble, when injustice and oppression prevails, when we work as hard as we can and find out that our jobs are being shipped overseas, it is difficult even for a Zen master to be mindful. But that is exactly when we most need to be.

This photograph was taken during Occupy May Day protests. This is the 500th daily post on TF. 17975 Page Views since 6/6/2011.

Song of the Day: Falling Off The Edge Of The World - Black Sabbath (1981)