Acharya Prashant explains that focus and concentration are states of the mind, whereas attention belongs to a different dimension. He defines the mind as a collection of thoughts, each centered on an object. A state of chaos occurs when the mind is preoccupied with many objects, while concentration is the state of being focused on a single object. Both chaos and concentration are modes of thinking. Attention, however, is the constant background awareness that allows one to know the current state of the mind. He likens attention to light falling in a room; the light remains the same whether the room is chaotic or orderly. He emphasizes that attention is possible in all states of mind, including fear or courage. Furthermore, he notes that when a chaotic mind is attended to, the chaos subsides into a state of no thought rather than simply shifting into concentration. Ultimately, attention is the simple act of knowing and being aware of what is occurring within the mind.
