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YOUR GUI DE TO I NNER PEACE,

ENHANCED FOCUS and


DEEP HAPPI NESS
Cover design: Alissa Dinallo
MI N D , B O DY , S P I R I T
Mindfulness practice can help you reduce stress, improve
performance, manage pain and increase wellbeing. These are
the reasons why elite athletes, performing artists and business
leaders are taking up the practice, and why it is being introduced
into the worlds most successful companies, banks, business
schoolseven the US Army.
David Michie introduces mindfulness practice and ofers
innovative solutions to common obstacles. Drawing on ancient
Buddhist teachings and contemporary science, he also takes us
beyond mindfulness lite, ofering lucid instructions on how to
experience the pristine nature of ones own consciousness
directlyan encounter that is truly life-changing.
Written with warmth and good humour, Why Mindfulness is
Better than Chocolate is the ultimate guide to self-discovery.
It will make chocolate taste better too!
David Michie demonstrates a ne knack for capturing the
essence of this important topic and presenting it in a fun and
accessible way. Dr Timothy Sharp, The Happiness Institute
DAVID MICHIE is an internationally published writer and meditation
coach. He is author of the bestselling Hurry Up and Meditate, Buddhism
for Busy People, Enlightenment to Go and The Dalai Lamas Cat series.
He brings to this book his expertise in mind training as a practising
Buddhist, and his professional experience of the corporate world.
2 3 . 1 3 mm
CMYK MAT T L AMI NAT I ON
www.davidmichie.com
YOUR GUI DE TO I NNER PEACE,
ENHANCED FOCUS and
DEEP HAPPI NESS
Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate.indd 3 4/04/14 3:01 PM
First published in 2014
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Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate.indd 4 4/04/14 3:01 PM
Contents
1. Is mindfulness really better than chocolate? 1
2. What is mindfulness and why does it matter? 15
3. How to meditate 29
4. The benets of meditation and mindfulness 49
5. How mindfulness benets organisations 89
6. Ten tips for getting into the meditation habit 116
7. How to apply mindfulness in your daily life 134
8. Our mindfulness journey 147
9. How mindfulness makes us happier 167
10. What is mind? 195
11. How to meditate on your own mind 224
12. Healing and the mind 255
Epilogue 284
Acknowledgements 290
Further reading 293
Notes 295
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1
Is mindfulness really better
than chocolate?
All of human unhappiness is due to the inability
to sit still in a room alone.
BLAISE PASCAL
I
s mindfulness really better than chocolate? Come to think
of it, is anything better than chocolate? Or is the title of
this book nothing more than a shameless ploy to grab your
attention?
As it happens, the idea that mindfulness is better than
chocolate is based on compelling research. More than 2000
people in the United States took part in an innovative study
using smartphone technology. Panel members were sent ques-
tions at different times of the day and night asking what they
were doing, what they were thinking and how happy they felt.
1
The analysis, published by Harvard University psycholo-
gists Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert in Science
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2
magazine, revealed three important facts. First, people were
not thinking about what they were doing 47 per cent of
the time. Second, people were unhappier when their minds
were wandering than when they were not. And third, what
people were thinking was a better predictor of their happiness
than what they were doing.
The researchers summarised: A human mind is a wander-
ing mind, and a wandering mind is an unhappy mind. The
ability to think about what is not happening is a cognitive
achievement that comes at an emotional cost.
Long ago, Buddhists reached much the same conclusion.
An ancient tale tells of a novice who asked an enlightened
monk to reveal the secret of happiness. The monk told him,
I eat, and I walk and I sleep. When the novice replied that
he also did these things, the monk replied, When I eat, I eat.
When I walk, I walk. When I sleep, I sleep.
Buddha and the Harvard Psychology Department are
most denitely on the same page when it comes to mindful-
ness. And the Harvard ndings are rich with implications for
human behaviour.
But what concerns us right now is chocolate.
The study shows were at our happiest when our mind is
not wanderingthat is, when were in a state of mindfulness.
But the nature of peoples activities had only a modest impact
on whether their minds wandered. It would seem that whether
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were washing the dishes or eating the most mouth-wateringly
delicious Belgian praline, were just as likely to have a wander-
ing mind. Eating chocolate is no guarantee that were thinking
about what were doing.
Which is why mindfulness will always trump chocolate as
a means of delivering happiness.
Perhaps not surprisingly, theres one human activity
where mindfulness is consistently high: sex. Only 10 per
cent of people reported their minds wandering during
this activity, so if Id called this book Why mindfulness is
better than sex, I would have found myself on much shakier
ground.
Incidentally, one cant help speculating on what those
10 per cent of people who reported wandering minds during
sex were actually thinking about. Could the old clich of
grocery lists be true? More research, please!
I will admit, however, to being a little mischievous in
creating a false dichotomy between mindfulness and choco-
late. Theres no reason to choose between the two. On the
contrary, the highlight of my mindfulness seminars is often an
exercise I call the Lindt technique, where I invite participants
to mindfully enjoy a Lindt chocolate. Their instructions are to
focus exclusively on the sensation of eating a chocolate, every
element in forensic detail, from opening the foil wrapper to the
appearance and heft of the sphere, the explosion of delicious
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avours, and savouring the smooth, liquid heart of the choco-
late as it bursts in the mouth.
Are you salivating yet?
For two or three minutes a blissful silence ensues.
Mind fulness applied to the eating of chocolatetheres some-
thing that can give even the proverbial grocery lists a run for
their money!
Mindfulness in the mainstream
Both mindfulness and meditation have become very fashion-
able of late. Just as the cheesecloth and hashish brigade of the
1970s have long since matured to become pillars of the estab-
lishment, so too our understanding of meditation has evolved
in recent decades from hippie-trippy mysticism to mainstream
practice.
Although the difference between meditation and mind-
fulness will be described in more detail later, at the outset
its important to note the distinction between the two words.
When were being mindful, were paying attention to the
present moment, deliberately and non-judgementally. When
were meditating, were being mindful of a specic object
such as the sensation of the breath at the tip of our nostrilsfor
a sustained period of time. Meditation is, if you like, the
training ground for mindfulness. Regular meditation enhances
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our ability to be mindful. We can all enjoy mindfully drinking
a cup of coffee without the benet of meditation practice, but
our capacity for mindfulness is greatly enhanced if we meditate
regularly.
Doctors these days are as likely to recommend medi-
tation for stress management as they are to prescribe
medication. Many of the worlds highest prole consumer
companies, such as Google, Apple, Facebook and Twitter,
actively support meditation in their workplaces, as do some of
the largest nancial institutions, accounting rms, manufac-
turers and other corporations. No best practice management
school is complete these days without a mindful leadership
program. The worlds most elite athletes, sports stars and
performing artists employ techniques borrowed from the
mindfulness toolbox. Mindfulness is a foundation practice
across the increasingly popular practices of yoga, tai chi and
a variety of martial arts. Meditation programs are demon-
strably among the most successful deployed in prisons to
reduce re-offence rates. A wave of research since the turn
of the century at laboratories in California, New England,
Europe and Australia is focusing on the emerging disci-
pline of contemplative neuroscience. Even the US Marines
have got in on the act, coaching soldiers in meditation-based
exercises before deploying them in the worlds most
dangerous war zones.
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Mindfulness practices are millennia old, originating in
eastern traditions, notably Buddhism, which has extensively
practised, debated, documented and taught a range of tech-
niques for a variety of purposes. Given that Buddhism has at its
heart a reverence for all forms of life, the idea of teaching medi-
tation to soldiers about to parachute into battle may well raise
the eyebrows of some. But in describing the exercise as like
doing push-ups for the brain, the US Army general respons-
ible pithily summarised the way meditation has been reframed:
just as a healthy body demands regular exercise, goes this
paradigm, a healthy mind requires the same.
2
This move to the mainstream has inevitably been accom-
panied by a urry of books. Without any particular plan to
build a library on the subject, I have on my personal book-
shelves alone a section of books on mindfulness and meditation
about a metre long, picked up here and there in recent years.
These books espouse a variety of approaches ranging from the
determinedly practical to the quirkily esoteric.
Books I dont have on my shelves include those by an
ever-expanding group of self-styled teachers and mind-
fulness gurus who go to quite some lengths in the pursuit
of mystication. A liberal sprinkling of and signs is
usually warning enough. The requirement to spend large
sums of money on weekend intensives should also cause the
brow to wrinkle. For the truth is that mindfulness is a simple
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subjectdifcult to practise, no question, but straight-
forward to explain.
Given all this, does the world need yet another book on
mindfulness?
The dumbing down of mindfulness
Some months ago I was delivering a mindfulness seminar to a
group of engineers at a business school. The participants were
an engaged bunch, and a meditation exercise was followed
by a lively Q&A session, during which I was asked: Why do
Buddhist monks meditate? After all, they dont have any stress.
All they have to do is hang around for the next meal to arrive.
On the surface of things, this is perhaps a reasonable
question. And going by the smiles and nodding, it was clear
that this observation chimed with quite a few others in the
room. If we assume for a moment that the questioner was essen-
tially correct, and that the life of a Buddhist monk is one long
picnic waiting for the next course to be served, it may indeed
seem mystifying why stress management would be called for.
But for me the question really summed up the tragically
diminished idea many people have of what mindfulness and
meditation are all about. Yes, theyre great for managing stress,
but that isnt why Buddhists do them. Stress management isnt
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the main reason, nor even a particularly important part of our
motivation. To put things in a current, western perspective,
it was as if my questioner was asking why people who arent
on Facebook bother with internet access. Why else would you
want to go online?
I felt the need to write this book because Id like to share
the real treasure of mindfulnessits truly transformative
power, the authentic reason Buddhist monks meditate. This
explanation is left behind, overlooked, dumbed down or never
even explored by some contemporary mindfulness teachers
and not necessarily with bad intentions. Mindfulness Lite is
an easier sell to a wide audience, and cant the world use as
many mindful people as possible, albeit of the push-ups for
the brain variety? Besides, the benets of meditation are so
numerous and now so well established by researchers that you
dont need to take people too far along the journey for them to
start noticing the favourable physical and psychological effects,
so why go further?
At the heart of this reluctance to venture into the heart-
land of meditation, Im guessing, is also a certain fear. When
people are given the tools to observe the true nature of their
own minds for themselves, the experience is a subtle but in evi-
table game-changer. When the rug is well and truly pulled
out from beneath the confection of the self we have come to
believe ourselves to be, we can never experience ourselves in
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quite the same way again. Like being able to see the alterna-
tive perspective in one of those famous optical illusions, we can
never go back to our former innocence. Our view of our self
changes forever.
East and West
In writing this book, Im doing so not as a Buddhist monk
tempting though the prospect of a lifetimes free catering
may benor as someone claiming any preternatural mental
abilities. The prosaic truth is that Im a regular middle-aged
corporate consultant with many of the usual personal, business
and nancial responsibilities. In the midst of this typically
busy 21st-century life, I have nevertheless found, in meditation
and mindfulness, practices that have transformed my expe-
rience of reality dramatically for the better. And I know from
talking to other meditators that its the same for them, too.
My own meditation journey has been informed by Tibetan
Buddhism, in particular the lineage established in Australia
by the pre-eminent Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden and, more
directly, through the teachings Ive received from my kind and
precious teacher, Les Sheehy. While the knowledge and expe-
rience I have acquired has been guided by them, any failure in
my attempt to pass on their profound wisdom is very much my
own doing.
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While I will refer to Buddhist sources and insights where
relevant, its important to note that the study of our own minds
isnt about theory or belief. Its about seeing whats there for
ourselves. Ill also refer to research from scientic endeavours
in elds as varied as psychology, neuroscience, medicine,
genetics and quantum physics.
One of the joys of being alive in the early part of the
21st century is witnessing the convergence of so many differ-
ent dynamicsancient and contemporary, outer and inner,
eastern and westernin arriving at a holistic understanding of
consciousness.
For some people, the proliferation of empirical studies
showing the benets of mindfulness encourages personal
exploration. Others have a more intuitive understanding of the
value of this practice. I hope in this book to share ideas that
will inspire both intuitive and analytical thinkers, both left-
brain and right-brain thinkers.
I have also intentionally interwoven chapters on mindful-
ness theory with those explaining how to practise meditation.
As fascinating as concepts of mindfulness are, the only way
they can have a powerful personal impact is if we apply them.
Ideas, theories and evidence only get us so far. Then we need
to move beyond concept.
In my previous non-ction books, Buddhism for Busy
People, Hurry Up and Meditate and Enlightenment to Go,
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Ive shared some of the experiences of my own journey, and
I do so in this book, too. This isnt because Im the repository
of especially arcane insights, but because I hope youll nd
in this more personal accountrather than a straightforward
exposition of the subjectthemes and discoveries you can
relate to, landmarks that may be useful in your own exploration
of the mind.
An outline of the mindfulness journey
We begin our exploration with the nuts and bolts of mindful-
nesswhat it is, why it works and how we can benet from it
in basic but profound ways. Stress management? Certainly!
Boosting our immune systems and pushing back our biological
clocks? That too! The physical and psychological benets of
mindfulness, even if taken no further than this, are well worth
getting out of bed ten minutes earlier for every morning.
We then move onto the possibilities offered by mindful-
ness in changing the content of your ongoing conversation
with yourself. Chatter, chatter, chatter. Were all up to it. But
are there recurring themes in this constant stream of self-talk
that dont serve you well? For example, are you a worrier,
constantly anticipating all the things that could possibly go
wrong then convincing yourself that the worst outcome is
almost certain? Or are you a victim, feeling you can never make
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any headway because of your circumstances, past events or the
people in your life? Or are you someone who struggles to nd
any compelling purpose or happiness beyond lling your days
with as many pleasurable distractions as possible?
The combination of mindfulness with what has become
known as cognitive behaviour training is one of the most
powerful transformation modalities. Creating space amid
all the mental agitation, discovering that we can become the
observers of our thoughts rather than their unwitting slaves
this is another extraordinary consequence of a more mindful
life. Its a consequence that allows us to get proactive about
what goes on in our mind, take charge of our own mental
trajectories and thereby exercise choice over the destinies to
which our every thought propels us.
The main eventmind itself
And then we come to mind itself. What it is. What it is not.
Were no longer doing push-ups herewere onto something
much more exciting! Ill guide you through the practical steps
by which you can experience your own mind for yourself, not
as a concept or intellectual idea, but directly and rsthand.
Youll be empowered to experience the nature of your own
consciousness, and if youre anything like most people whove
never tried this before, youll nd, in those rst glimpses of
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the pure nature of your own mind, an extraordinary truth.
Youll see for yourself how your mind is, quite literally,
innite. How it has no beginning and no end. How, far
from being some existential void, its imbued with the most
profound happiness-giving qualities.
Youll experience the paradox that even though you set out
to explore your mind, the result is as much a feeling as it is a
perception. Its an experience beyond concept and for which
words are therefore wholly inadequate, but that may be hinted
at using such terms as oceanic tranquillity and radiant love.
Even the briefest encounter with this state is life-changing,
because when we can free ourselves from the agitation or
dullness that pervades our minds and encounter our own true
natures, if only momentarily, we can never go back to believ-
ing ourselves to be nothing more than a bag of bones. We have
experienced a dimension of being that transcends all our usual
ideas of self.
We have come home.
When we begin to explore our own mind, we usually do so
for reasons of self-discovery. But an interesting thing happens,
because in experiencing our own true nature, we come to
recognise that just as we are, others are too. Our everyday
experience of people is one in which we habitually observe and
judge based on what we see, at a conventional level, as their
apparent characteristics.
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Discovering that these characteristics are, ultimately, as
temporary and insignicant as our own, a shift occurs. Others
may continue the way theyve always seemed to be, but now
we know better. Aware of the more important way in which
they exist, as well as the difculties and challenges they must
inevitably endure because of their profoundly self-limiting
beliefs, our compassion quite naturally arises. Mindfulness is
no longer just about me. It becomes panoramic.
I can think of nothing more enduringly fascinating or
life-enhancing than the practice of mindfulness. No matter
where you are on your own journey, I hope you nd in this
book fresh insights and inspiration to encourage your further
exploration. In particular, its my heartfelt wish that you may
abide, however eetingly, in your own unobstructed mind.
For there youll discover that your own true nature is one of
timeless and transcendental bliss.
Chocolate, schmocolate. Show me the meditation cushion!
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David Michie demonstrates a ne knack for capturing the essence of
this important topic and presenting it in a fun and accessible way. In
Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate he perfectly explains what
mindfulness is, why its important and, most notably, how we can
practise and integrate it into our lives. I know for a fact that mindful-
ness can enhance health and happiness; this book will help any reader
become more mindful.
Dr Timothy Sharp, The Happiness Institute
A practical and informed exposition of meditative techniques,
complemented by a lucid scientic overview.
Gordon Parker AO, Scientia Professor of Psychiatry,
University of New South Wales
Essential reading for leaders who want to train their minds to engage
in strategic thought.
Emeritus Professor Gary Martin, CEO,
Australian Institute of Management WA
A delightful read, providing practical tools and examples around
mindfulness and meditation; steeped in tradition, yet brought to
life in the modern world. The topic is supported with considerable
research examples which resonate with me as a practitioner in the eld
of positive psychology and it was a joy to see it done so clearly.
Sue Langley, Emotional Intelligence Worldwide
A fascinating and illuminating journey into the many rewards that
practising mindfulness can bring: from stress release, to greater focus,
to a deeper understanding of your own mind.
Beth Phelan, World Happiness Forum
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YOUR GUI DE TO I NNER PEACE,
ENHANCED FOCUS and
DEEP HAPPI NESS
Also by David Michie
Buddhism for Busy People
Hurry Up and Meditate
Enlightenment To Go
The Dalai Lamas Cat
The Art of Purring
Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate.indd 2 14/04/14 3:59 PM

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