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In the Pāli language, there is only one verb for “to In fact, mindfulness has no other function other than to
remember” and that is sarati. Its noun is sati, which bring the mind back to the very present moment, and to
should be “remembrance” or awareness of the past. improve our memory.

Now, the question is: How far from the present must an Geshe Dadul: Mindfulness (smṛti) is an umbrella term
event have happened in order to be regarded as past? and is traditionally spoken of in conjunction with
Is there a minimum duration? There is no doubt that introspective awareness (saṃprajanya), another tool
what happened aeons ago is past; so too what happened used in meditation with mindfulness. Although, smṛti
years, months, weeks, days, or hours ago. But as we literally means “to remember” or “memory”, it doesn’t
get nearer to the present, say a micro or nano second mean thinking of the past or bringing something to
ago, we realize that there is a very fine, ephemeral memory in a meditation context. It means holding
line between the past and the future which we call the onto the object of meditation, preferably, all the time
present. And it’s so elusive because the moment I say during the session and carrying it out smoothly drawing
“present”, it’s already past! guidance from past instructions. The formats of
meditation may vary according to what one is aspiring
Since mindfulness is awareness of the past, its scope can to achieve, and due to this, the object or focus of
span from the immediate past to the infinite past. mindfulness in the meditation also varies. An attempt at
getting a closer look and contact with the simple state of
The current understanding of mindfulness as present awareness, for whatever purposes— spiritual or secular,
moment awareness is none other than awareness of lends itself to designing a meditation where one opens
the immediate past. Since the function of sati is merely the mind, letting thoughts, emotions, and ideas full
awareness of a past object, it does not evaluate it and freedom to exit or enter the mental space without being
is therefore naturally non-judgemental. Evaluation interrupted, and thus a mindfulness characterized as
is performed by other mental states, such as initial above is obvious. Of course, not all mindfulness practice
and discursive thinking aided by feeling (vedanā) and involves anchoring to bare awareness and/or sustaining
perception (saññā). thoughtlessness.

Ven Min Wei: In fact, the term smṛti has many Mindfulness is the buzz word today in the modern
interpretations and translated as mindfulness, world. During a meeting with Buddhist teachers in
inspection, recollection, and so on. The meaning is 2011, HH the Dalai Lama said that even a suicide
sometimes related to not forgetting, referring to not bomber would like to cultivate some sort of
forgetting one’s practice instructions, or not forgetting mindfulness. Would you say that mindfulness now
to keep the mind focused on a particular object of has lost its link to ethics, especially in the context
meditation. of Right Mindfulness stated in the Noble Eight-fold
Path?

Smṛti in Chinese word is nian, commonly refers to study;
read aloud; think of; remember; remind. A Dictionary of Ven Aggacitta: I think we should make a distinction

Chinese Buddhist Terms gives basic translations of nian between right, wrong and ordinary mindfulness. Right
as: “Recollection; memory; to think on; reflect; repeat; and wrong mindfulness are applicable to spiritual
intone; a thought; a moment.” practices that lead respectively to authentic liberation
or non-liberation. Ordinary mindfulness is applicable
Besides, from a scientific perspective, according to a to non-spiritual practices. So in general, mindfulness
new study by psychology researchers from Ball State in itself can be regarded as non-religious or amoral.
University, it was revealed that by just spending 10 This squares with the declaration of the Brahmin chief
minutes practicing mindfulness, it would help us ‘to minister Vassakāra in a dialogue with the Buddha (AN
remember’ more information and improve our memory. 4.35), where he said that mindfulness is one of the