Directing the heart to Allah is the a form of mindfulness. But is it on the same level as mindfulness of the breath? Similarly, meditating on gratitude is a form of mindfulness, mindfulness of blessings. The meditation of the breath is framed in the suttas of the Buddha and in the Vissudhamagga as a tool for other forms of mindfulness. So to say that mindfulness of the breath is "real" mindfulness and that meditating on Allah or gratitude is somehow lesser is totally inconsistent with the Buddhist tradition. Mindfulness of the breath is wonderful, obviously medically and scientifically so good for you but it is not the end all and be all of mindfulness. The extrication of the concept of mindfulness from its roots in Buddhism has its good points. It allows anyone from any tradition to connect with the concept and allows anyone to benefit from it. But the reality of the "mindfulness movement" is that it started with Buddhist teachers. A natural looping of the intention to make mindfulness available to anyone is for Muslims to focus on how mindfulness is part of our tradition and how to practice "Islamically oriented mindfulness". This can connect back to the Buddhist tradition and build on it. After all, many people believe that Buddha was actually a prophet. Part of Buddhist mindfulness involved meditating on the nature of reality. Of the eightfold path right understanding and right insight are two critical pieces. Of the Paramitas of the Boddhisattva we see wisdom as well. This leads us to see a way to practice mindfulness that is quintessentially Islamic: meditating on Allah, on blessings, on nature. Contemplation is an important part of all the great religious traditions of the world and mindfulness of the breath is a route to be able to do this more effectively.
One hour of contemplation is better than 70 years of worship...
One hour of contemplation is better than 70 years of worship...
Miqdad, one of the loyal companions of ‘Ali (as), says: “I went to Abu Hurairah who said that he had heard the Noble Prophet (S) say: ‘Contemplating for an hour is better than the worship of one year.’
I went to Ibn ‘Abbas and heard him say that the Noble Prophet (S) said: ‘Contemplation for one hour is superior to seven years of worship.’
I went to another companion and heard him narrate that the Noble Prophet (S) said: ‘An hour of contemplation is better than seventy years of worship.’
I was astonished to hear each of them narrating differently from the other and so, I approached the Noble Prophet (S) and informed him of the three different versions. He said: “All three of them speak the truth.” Then, in order to prove his point, he summoned the three men. All of us gathered in the presence of the Noble Prophet (S).
The Noble Prophet (S) asked Abu Hurairah: “How do you contemplate?”
“As stated by Allah in the Qur’an: ‘(Men of understanding) reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth.’6. I too reflect upon the wonders of the heavens and the earth,” he replied.
The Noble Prophet (S) remarked, “One hour of your contemplation is better than one year of worship.”
Then turning to Ibn ‘Abbas, he asked, “How do you contemplate?”
“I reflect upon death and the horrors of the Day of Judgment,” replied Ibn ‘Abbas.
The Noble Prophet (S) said, “One hour of your contemplation is better than seven years of worship.” Then, he asked the other companion, “In what manner do you contemplate?”
The companion answered, “I reflect upon the fire of Hell and its dreadfulness and severity.”
“One hour of your contemplation is better than seventy years of worship,” the Noble Prophet (S) stated.
In this way the issue was solved and it became clear that the rewards for contemplation depended upon the intention that accompanied it.
from: https://www.al-islam.org/anecdotes-reflection-part-2-sayyid-ali-akbar-sadaaqat/24-contemplation
