We often go into an autopilot mode when the things we do during our daily routines don’t require much of our conscious attention — things such as doing dishes or laundry.  If we wish to cultivate mindfulness, does that mean we can never go into the autopilot mode? Does being mindful mean that we have to pay full attention to every single thing we do at every single moment? 

Not necessarily; being mindful just means that we are aware of the times when we need not be aware and then we consciously choose to not be aware. For example, while doing laundry, we can consciously decide to let our hands go into auto mode so that we can focus our consciousness elsewhere: maybe on mentally reviewing recent events, listening to a podcast, or making some pending phone calls. 

A caveat is needed, however. While the autopilot mode can free our attention from monotonous tasks, it can also become our default mode of functioning toward which we gravitate even while doing things that need attention and discretion. For example, after a hard day’s work, our autopilot mode may prompt us to pick up the television remote, instead of choosing a more uplifting form of relaxation: say, doing deep breathing exercises or meditating. To prevent such unhelpful choices we need to be mindful about our autopilot mode, consciously deciding when to turn it on and when to turn it off

Given how busy our schedules are,  it may be impossible for us to do the many things we would like to do if we have to give each one of them exclusive attention. Even when we divide our attention over two things, with one thing being done on autopilot, we can still do that attention division mindfully. By thus taking responsibility for our mind, we can ensure that our actions make us better, not worse (Bhagavad-gita 06.05)

Summary: 

Being mindful doesn’t mean that we can never go into autopilot mode; it just means that we consciously turn that mode on when it is helpful and consciously turn it off when it becomes unhelpful or harmful. 

Think it over: 

  • When is the auto mode of the mind helpful?
  • How might that auto mode become unhelpful or even harmful?
  • How can mindfulness and the auto mode of functioning go together?

Audio explanation of article is here: https://gitadaily.substack.com/p/a-mindful-autopilot-mode

***

06.05: One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.

A mindful autopilot mode?

To know more about this verse, please click on the image