Yogi: The mind would drift into thoughts often. Should I be more aware of the mind or body?
Sayadaw: If you’re daydreaming, don’t look at the mind; watch the body.
If we daydream a lot, it means that the mind doesn’t understand the mind; and the mind also doesn’t know how to watch the mind objectively. All we see are the stories – we’re not aware that thinking is happening; we’re looking at the stories.
The way to practice is – watch the body, but every time there’s a thought, recognize and acknowledge it and come back to the body. Whether you’re watching the breath, rising-falling or pain, every time there’s a thought, acknowledge that the mind is thinking and come back to the object.
The story or topic of the thoughts is not important. Don’t follow – don’t keep watching the mind, but come back to the body.
So, just one second for the mind and come back to the body – we do it over and over again.