The central problem that we consistently grapple with is our worry about the future and our lamentation of the past. Intellectually, it is not difficult to conclude that the past cannot be changed and should therefore not attract our attention. Future concerns that are too distant to be under our influence are equally unworthy of consideration. However, this intellectual knowledge is not sufficient to prevent the mind from indulging in such consideration.
The cause of our problems is not a lack of intellect. It is our habit or tendency to engage in useless conjecture and regret that confines us to the suffering realm. When we see the mind as a series of causes and effects, we can understand that we are trapped in a cycle whereby each time we allow the mind to wander towards an unhelpful thought, we are actually perpetuating that heedless energy.
When the heedless energy is absent, we are only left with present moment awareness which is free from the taint of worry, lamentation and despair. Such a mind is more productive because it will only expend energy on useful activities. Resources that could otherwise have been wasted would then be devoted to the singular cause of unconditional happiness. With this understanding, there is no doubt that happiness will increase along with our mindfulness training.
The training that is required is not an intellectual pursuit but rather a gradual redirection of heedless energy towards present moment awareness. Since we are incapable of stopping or destroying the pull that we feel towards our bad habits, we follow the Buddha’s instruction to stand aside and observe. By putting our effort into the act of watching, we automatically stop indulging or fighting and let go. Through this process we can continually transform our habits from those that lead to suffering into mindfulness which only has happiness as its result.