Question: What is the difference between mindfulness, attentiveness, and carefulness?
Rinpoche: Mindfulness (drenpa) is the mindfulness that does not forget what to accept and reject. It is knowing and not forgetting what the negative emotions are and are not.
Attentiveness (shezhin) (sometimes also translated as conscientiousness) is knowing or being aware of what you are doing, saying, and thinking each moment.
Carefulness (bagyo) is being cautious and careful, thinking, “If I’m not careful, I’ll fall into the negative emotions. I must be careful!”
KYABGÖN PHAKCHOK RINPOCHE