In a world where we are almost constantly bombarded with information and there never seems to be enough time for everything we have to do, stress has become constant. Many people live in a state of overwhelm, struggling to get through each day. It is in this context that the practice of mindfulness, also known as full attention, has gained popularity.
Over and above its stress-relieving effects, full attention offers a profound and transformative benefit: nothing less than mental liberation, as it allows us to observe our thoughts and emotions without being drawn into them. In this way, mindfulness becomes a practical and accessible tool that helps us navigate through the ‘mists’ of our mind, allowing us to see our way through the confusion of thoughts and emotions.
In seeking holistic well-being, mindfulness offers us a tool for self-knowledge. It allows us to respond consciously to life rather than reacting impulsively to it.But is mindfulness the final destination, or is it a stepping stone to something greater?
What is Mindfulness?
To understand mindfulness in an easy way, imagine that your mind is the sky and your thoughts are clouds passing by. The practice of mindfulness is not about clearing the sky of clouds but about learning to simply observe, without judging whether the cloud is big, small, dark or light. You just see it and let it pass by.Understanding this is key, as mindfulness is much more than simple relaxation. Relaxation is a state; mindfulness is a practice and a tool. Relaxation seeks to alleviate tension, while mindfulness seeks to achieve an inner balance, allowing calmness to arise naturally. It is the element of non-judgmental observation that gives it its transformative power, enabling you to respond consciously rather than react automatically.
The myth about mindfulness
A common misconception is that you need to sit and meditate for hours for it to be effective. In reality, you can practise it anytime. Imagine an everyday situation: being stuck in traffic and getting late for an appointment, or faced with a list of urgent messages to deal with. An agitated mind only sees chaos and the response to this is to feel under pressure. By applying mindfulness, you take a breath, observe the feeling of being under pressure without letting it overwhelm you, and gradually, clarity returns. You can prioritise, find a solution, or simply accept the traffic as it is, without losing your peace of mind.This practical application is what makes mindfulness so useful in working life. Not only does it improve overall concentration, but, for example, when facing creative block or the pressure of a deadline, or when faced with a customer’s needs or demands, you can apply mindfulness as a tool for navigating the complexities of the modern world with more consciousness and less stress.
From mindfulness to Gnosis
If mindfulness is the workout that strengthens the muscles of attention and self-observation, Gnosis represents the specialised training that uses those skills for a transcendental purpose. While full attention teaches us to witness our thoughts and emotions in order to reduce stress and live with greater clarity, Gnosis takes this process even further.
Gnostic self-observation is not haphazard; it is a conscious and deliberate act aimed at a higher goal: the dissolution of the ‘egos’ or psychological defects.
If mindfulness invites us to watch the clouds pass by, Gnosis asks us to identify what type of cloud it is (anger, envy, fear etc) and then work on dissolving it. For example, when driving on ‘autopilot,’ mindfulness would help us realise that we are not present, that our mind is elsewhere while our body is driving the car. Gnosis, however, urges us to ask ourselves: which “I” is driving? Is it the ‘I’ of impatience, vanity, anger?
The great purpose of Gnosis, going beyond stress reduction and improved concentration, is the liberation of consciousness. It is the transition from being simply an observer to becoming the agent of your own transformation. Attention and self-observation are the essential tools for discovering the psychological structures that keep us in a sleeping state of consciousness.
Nature as the mirror of the consciousness
Nature offers us help when we want to awaken consciousness. A gentle walk in a natural place, attentively observing all the elements of the landscape with your senses can become a powerful exercise in full attention. In those moments, perceiving the wind on your face, the murmur of the water, the colour of the sky with all your senses, without judgement or distraction, helps to silence the internal noise and simply ‘be’, without the weight of the past or anxiety about the future.
This type of practice is essential, as mindfulness allows us to develop a key skill for inner work: the ability to observe the ego without identifying with it.Just as a lake reflects the immensity of the sky without becoming the sky itself, consciousness can observe the impulses and reactions of the ego (such as anxiety or impatience) without being engulfed by them. This allows us to recognise that we are not our thoughts or emotions, but rather the witness who observes them. It is the first step in distancing ourselves from automatic reactions and regaining control of our inner stability.
Applying Mindfulness in the Awakening of Consciousness
While mindfulness offers us an invaluable tool for handling stress, Gnosis goes further: it is about the radical dissolution of the ego, not just its observation. The full attention we develop becomes the foundation for a deeper work.
The awakening of consciousness in Gnosis is not just about being present, but being conscious of Consciousness itself. To understand this, think of a person who lives ‘wrapped up’ in their pride. They get easily irritated if contradicted, cannot take any criticism, and always need to be right. They live in a prison of automatic reactions, believing that there is no other way to be. This person’s consciousness is asleep, trapped in layers of ego.
The mystical death taught in Gnosticism is the path to awakening from this sleep. This process involves peeling away layer after layer of psychological defects, like the layers of an onion. By understanding and dissolving an ‘I,’ a certain percentage of our consciousness that was trapped within it is released. This brings a sense of clarity, a new inner space that allows us to act with composure and serenity.Unlike simply controlling a defect (for example, suppressing the urge to shout), radical dissolution addresses the root of the problem. Control is temporary; dissolution is permanent. Each time a flaw, or defect, is eliminated, a little more of our consciousness is liberated, and this manifests as greater freedom in daily life. In the end, when all the layers of the onion have been removed, what is found at the centre is pure essence, fully awakened consciousness, free from all selfishness and attachment.
Meditation: Tools for dispelling the inner mists
Self-observation should be complemented by profound meditation. Meditation is a space for introspection where consciousness reflects on itself to understand the movements of the ego.
We can liken this path to a Scottish landscape: the mist over the loch is our sleeping consciousness, which shrouds everything so that nothing can be seen clearly. The light that breaks through the mist is the ray of consciousness being liberated. Meditation is the tool that dispels that inner mist, allowing our essence to be freed.
Practices for Awakening in Everyday Life
The true test of awakening consciousness is not limited to meditation, but rather how we bring attention and self-observation to every moment of our daily lives.
To illustrate this, think of something as simple as consciously walking along a path in the countryside. Going beyond mere presence involves observing your internal reactions to the physical exertion, to the cold wind or hot sun, to the beauty of the landscape. It is an opportunity to recognise how the ego reacts to discomfort or admiration, without identifying with it.
Similarly, something as enjoyable as having a cup of tea and a biscuit can be transformed into a practice. It is not just about savouring them, but observing the desire and the ego’s reaction to pleasure. Is there attachment to the sensation? What emotion or thought arises? By bringing our attention to these details, we begin to dismantle the psychological structures that control us.In short, the fundamental difference is between passively being in the moment and actively having a purpose in that moment. Every activity, whether washing dishes, walking or driving to work, or interacting with others, becomes a field of self-discovery. By applying this deeper attention, life no longer feels like a series of monotonous tasks, but rather a continuous path towards awakening consciousness.
Starting your journey to the awakening of consciousness
Mindfulness is undoubtedly an excellent starting point. It teaches us to observe our thoughts and emotions, manage stress, and live more clearly in the present moment. It is the first step on the road to self-knowledge, a vital tool for silencing external and internal noise. However, as we have seen, mindfulness is not the final destination, but rather the beginning of a much greater journey.
The true journey towards liberation and fulfilment is the awakening of consciousness, a process that Gnosis can lead us to through the radical dissolution of the ego. If mindfulness teaches us to navigate the surface of the lake, awakening invites us to dive into its depths to know what lies under the water.
True, lasting peace is not found on the surface, but rather by eliminating the ego in order to liberate our consciousness. The question is:
Are you ready to go beyond mindfulness and experience the true Awakening of your Consciousness?
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