The Sanskrit word for mindfulness is « Smirti », in Pali it’s « Sati », and in Tibetan « Drenpa » . Significantly, they all mean “to remember”. It’s what the Catholics call “being in a state of recollection”. And it’s extremely difficult.

If we can be aware for a few minutes that’s already a lot. If mindfulness is synonymous with “remembering” it follows that the enemy of awareness is forgetfulness.

We can be aware for a few short moments and then we forget. How do we remember to remember? That’s the issue. The problem is we have this tremendous inertia. We simply don’t have the habit of remembering.’

Tenzin Palmo

P. 169 A  cave in the snow