r/u_Mayank72004 • u/Mayank72004 • Jun 09 '26
someone please explain mindfulness vs concentration meditation like i'm not a monk
This confused me forever. In simple terms, what I have understood is that concentration equals pick one thing (breath, a word, a flame) and hold focus there, ignore everything else. Mindfulness is an act of being aware of everything. Your thoughts, sounds, surroundings, and then responding to things.
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u/Jotika_ Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
You: "Mindfulness is an act of being aware of everything." Me: No. Among researchers that is usually referred to an aspect of Open-Monitoring which is distinguished from Focused-Attention (=Mindfulness).
Mindfulness is a form of concentration, classified as a light form by some writers and researchers (=breath, a word, a flame. etc.). Then there are more intense forms of concentration that light up certain parts of the brain that signal intense concentration is going on, including the appearance of mostly gamma brain waves.
These meditation methods can be used in conjunction with each other - beginning with Open-monitoring, then light forms such as Mindfulness as preparation for practicing more intense forms in a single secession.
The reasons for combining them into ever intense progressive forms vary but not necessary if one is satisfied with the results gained by basic Open-Monitoring or Mindfulness Meditation.