the simplicity of mindfulness

One clear thread weaves through our practice: the simplicity of mindfulness.

We are acquainted with complication. We know the feeling of being tangled, knee-deep in old resentments or lost in anxiety, listening to the compelling arguments of our reactive mind.

In these moments, we are, in a way, disconnected from ourselves. Being tangled up obscures the inner peace mindfulness is meant to reveal. In the words of a certain sage—we become very much “of the world”—the world of tangle and complication.

The way out of entanglements is not complicated. We just take a moment to be still; to dip our tired toes into the clear waters of the present moment’s experience. In this stillness, the sticky push and pull of the world loses its hold. We settle into a space of simple presence.

We are then “in the world, but not of it.”

This is why we emphasize simplicity. Mindfulness, wrote the German monk Nyanaponika Thera, helps to “tidy up the mental household.” And this inner tidiness, this inner simplicity, creates the space for growth.

Observe how being tangled causes strain and takes up valuable mental bandwidth. We cling to a story, an outcome, an expectation.

Instead, invite simple attention and feel the ease of release—of open space and deepening joy. Simplicity clears the air, allowing us to fully appreciate this way of being in the world.

We find ourselves making wiser choices when we are free from the pull of fear and anger.

The highly respected Jewish-Buddhist meditation teacher Sylvia Boorstein once said “restoring a caring connection when it is disrupted is happiness.”

Our mindfulness practice is the secret sauce here; it helps us restore that attentive link with the present moment’s experience, no matter what that is. This ability to restore connection is rooted in the simplicity of our practice.

We are so accustomed to distraction we forget what true connection feels like. These moments don’t require grand gestures; they are found in the intentional simplicity of being present with what is.

We can feel this intimacy, this wholehearted presence, everywhere.

Sometimes, I feel it while washing dishes. My heart softens. I let go into the warmth of the soapy water. It is a simple kind of love.

Through this lens of simplicity, we discover spontaneous intimacy everywhere. Ursula Le Guin reminds us:

Love must be remade each day, baked fresh like bread.

The secret is simple.

Experience the moment exactly as it is. Let go of any expectations. Let any mental overlays quietly dissolve.

Connect with the simplicity of raw experience—just this sensing, just this feeling, just this thinking. This present moment is all we need. This essence, the profound simplicity of mindfulness, is always available.

Be patient.

Wonder and amazement will quietly reveal themselves.