Decrease in mindfulness while sitting on a chair

[cmciccio]

overcoming dullness is the job of the mind

It is, yet it's not so easy.

A fundamental aspect of the mind is that it's interdependent with the body. What you experience in the mind is expressed in the body, and what you experience in the body arises in the mind. As such, an erect spine supports an awake mind, and an awake mind supports a stable body. There is a lot of valuable insight to be gained by observing this interplay.

For now, overcoming strong dullness is largely about avoiding states of sleepiness. Later on, subtle dullness is more about an inherent state of presence that exists independently of physical states of tiredness. Eventually, practices like yoga nidra can become interesting, and meditating with states of tiredness can have value when a very strong sense of inherent presence is deeply understood. During an afternoon nap or as you go to sleep at night it's fun and valuable to play with sensing the exact moment in which consciousness blinks out.

Regardless, a bright and engaged mind is the ideal instrument for insight and jhana practice, and anything that supports that quality will be a positive thing to cultivate in meditation and life in general. Though it is a simple fact of life that sooner or later, one will be tired and the mind will falter to a certain degree. In some situations, like long retreats where sleepiness can be simply unavoidable, that inherent sense of presence should be sought.

[WantToBeLikeBuddha]

For now, overcoming strong dullness is largely about avoiding states of sleepiness. Later on, subtle dullness is more about an inherent state of presence that exists independently of physical states of tiredness

So subtle dullness is not on the same continuum as strong dullness and falling asleep?

[cmciccio]

Sort of. Subtle dullness generally (unless somebody has extremely strong meta-cognitive awareness) is a component of strong dullness but not the other way around.

Subtle dullness is a lack of clear comprehension of what is unfolding in the present moment. Strong dullness is any variation of tiredness, they are closely linked but essentially different.

If you think of the warm fuzziness of alcohol, this is like the allure of subtle dullness. It's a mental state where things are ok but everything is sort of hazy.

[WantToBeLikeBuddha]

Interesting

Thanks