Mindfulness, devotion and trust
Often it is thought that mindfulness is an alternative approach to peace and spirituality as opposed to devotional practices such as prayer. However, devotion can lead to mindfulness and hence peace. On such a path of devotion, mindfulness is not the aim; it is the bi-product of devotion. When we do everything with devotion, we give ourselves to the Divine. We live with grace and full attention. In life we are always doing something and everything can be done with devotion, even breathing. When we breathe with devotion, naturally we are mindful of the breath because we are absorbed in it. Living with devotion changes the way we live. When we act, we devote our efforts to a higher purpose and we do so without trying to control reality according to our egoistic wishes. Of course, we must exert some control. When we wash dishes, we need to try to clean them without breaking them, but we can’t control everything. There are only a certain number of dishes we can do in a set time; to try to