Mindfulness is being present to the moment. Be present to the environment, that is, experience every possible thing in the immediate environment through all the five senses. Experiencing the environment happens through the mind, which does the analysing of the information received by the senses they are touching, smelling, hearing, seeing and tasting.

In the lifespan of a person, say 70 years, hardly a person spends seven years being mindful. A person instead of being mindful spends more time either thinking past or the future.

A chain of thoughts occurs in a human mind which are based on real experiences and imaginative thoughts.

The origin of thought causes a response or reaction. Thoughts are either pleasant or unpleasant. Every thought has an impact on the physical body. This state of non-reacting and letting the thought come and go is a kind of meditation. During meditation, to be no-reactive in spite of having a good or a bad thought, one might focus on the breath or utters a few words.

Mindfulness can be meditation, but meditation need not be mindfulness.

The basic distinction between ‘mind full’ and ‘mindful’

In a particular situation, I became more mindful when I got an opportunity to go to Jalalabad a city in Afghanistan close to the border with Pakistan. A person knows the value of life when death could approach anytime and in any form. I was doing a study for an International Organisation. Some, of my Afghan colleagues, were from Jalalabad. It is one of the most insecure cities, especially for foreigners. This was a two and half-day trip. As very few people wear Pant and Shirt in the city, so I too changed my dress to Kurta and Pajama - the traditional dress of Jalalabad. We started early in the morning, by the time we reached a check-post on the periphery of Kabul city, the security stopped us for checking the vehicle. The guard found me squeezed in the back seat. He asked if I am from Pakistan, my colleague said that I am from Hindustan. He was happy to know, but immediately said ‘oose marvane ke liya leke ja rahe ho kya?’ It means ‘are you taking him to Jalalabad for getting him killed?’ I understood the gravity of the problem in Jalalabad city. Now, I became more conscious. This consciousness out of fear for life made me ‘Mindful’ for the next two and half days of my journey and stay in Jalalabad.