The wandering mind, the focussed mind and the meta-aware mind

Caught within fast paced- urban industrial society, many of us may not ask questions about the nature of our mind, thoughts, although our mind, and thoughts often cause distress to us. Stressed between demands of tasks, and unexpected situations like pandemic loneliness, our paper offers useful insights into the dynamics of consciousness- the wandering mind (intentional, & unintentional mind-wandering), focussed mind, the meta-aware mind (mindfulness). We comparatively analyse results from contemplative traditions (Buddhism, & Yoga), CognitivePhenomenology, and Cognitive Psychology (Attention, working memory), with focus on attention training exercises (meditative practises). What is the relation between attention, and our thoughts? How can we train our attention, by practising meta-awareness, to effectively manage distressing thoughts, and emotions? How do the concepts of intentionality, and meta-awareness bear on the problem of differentiating between intentional consciously controlled, and unintentional automatic mind-wandering ? If, as Metzinger suggests, our mental life is oftencharacterized by sub-personal cognition, loss of mental autonomy, then what practices may help us to cultivate intentionality & meta-awareness? Does sub-personal cognition (e.g.mind-wandering) necessarily involve loss of agency, or as Seli has suggested, there are specific subtypes of mind-wandering that preserves intentionality and meta-awareness (at least at some later part of the time of the mind-wandering episode). In a convergence betweenapplication of Intentional Mind Wandering positive Self Generated Thoughts, and contemplative practices, suggested in the Patanjali Yoga tradition, we suggest a generalized meditative technique to counterbalance distressing thoughts. Commonly experienced distressing thoughts like aggression, jealousy, lust, despondency can be counter-balanced by systematically cultivating (Pratipaksha bhavana) opposing, and virtuous thoughts as further developed in the paper. Our paper explores, with focus on practical application via meditative practises, synergy between intentional mind wandering, meta-awareness (Sakshi bhava), Virtuous attitude Cultivation which have been shown to be effective in managing distressing thoughts e.g. depressogenic automatic negative thoughts.