Mindless Meditation Reports

Mindfulness is thinking things over.

It's not complicated. From the word mind plus thinking: A mind full of 
thoughts.

Anyone who can think, can meditate. In fact, we all meditate. You 
couldn't go through a single day without once or twice pausing to take 
stock of your own mental contents.

We all meditate, so whats the problem?

People don't meditate with a specific technique and a systematic 
training. It's like diving. Anyone can jump into the water, but diving 
requires a specific angle.

The idea is to dive within your own mind to be aware of your own thoughts.

One technique practiced at the Soto Zen Center is to sit quietly and 
just be aware of being aware. They call this zen technique "shikentaza" 
or "just sitting".

Another technique is to be aware of the breathing in and out.

In the Tibetan meditation, they use a mantra to meditate on or in Japan, 
a riddle or a phrase.

That being said, meditation is not what you think.

After fifty years of study and practice, under three Zen Masters, two 
Tibetan Lamas (including His Holiness The Dalai Lama); three Yogi Fakirs 
and two years of Vacation Bible School, I can now say, without the least 
hesitation, the very best way to meditate is to just kick back and think 
like your pet:

Just kick some dirt over that shit and move on!

YMMV.

So, what's the payoff?

Lowers stress hormones and calms the nervous system. Eases anxiety and 
helps manage intense feelings. Tuning into the current moment - rather 
than rehashing the past or worrying about the future. YMMV.