Choiceless awareness allows one to observe thoughts without judgment.

Evidence

This is something called “choiceless awareness.” … Once you’ve built up enough concentration, they say, you can drop your obsessive focus on the breath and just “open up” to whatever is there. — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 710

Categorization

• DEFINE: This concept is essential to understanding the practice of meditation and mindfulness.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 710
• XREF: connects to: Mindfulness involves being aware without judgment. — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 1130; Mindfulness allows for nonjudgmental observation of thoughts. — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 513; Recognizing thoughts as just thoughts reduces their power. — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 295 (+5 more)

Library Connections

• Mindfulness allows for nonjudgmental observation of thoughts. #corroborates (0.95) — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 513
• Mindfulness involves being aware without judgment. #corroborates (0.95) — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 1130

Broader Connections

• Mindfulness alters perception of intrusive thoughts. #expands (0.80) — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 564
• Silence is a positive presence rather than mere absence #expands (0.75) — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 1294
• Recognizing thoughts as just thoughts reduces their power. #expands (0.70) — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 295
• Mindfulness allows for thoughtful responses instead of mindless reactions. #expands (0.60) — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 1132
• Ignorance as want of knowledge derives from active ignoring as refusal to take notice. #expands (0.30)