Yes, Bill is kind to suggestion Chan meditation. At least, we don't use
the word of "mindfulness". :-)
I would not say that Chan meditation cures OCD. Chan meditation does
help you to reduce the frequency and the severity of OCD. We don't have
an OCD video, but other video witnesses are here.
http://www.chanliving.org/whats-chan-living/chan-meditation-benefits.html
Most of these symptoms are stress related similar to the cause of OCD.
As Bill suggested, instead of questioning it, or curious about it. Just
do it for three months everyday at same time and same place for 15 to 30
minutes.
I would recommend that you begin by learn belly breathing.. Sign up and
learn the sequence here...
http://chan-meditation.org/
Keep me posted on your progress. I will help you.
Thank you Bill for the referral. :-P
JM
Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can
http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com
http://www.heartchan.org
On 12/30/2010 4:36 PM, Bill! wrote:
Wookielifeday,
You asked several things below and I've embedded my responses in your
post.
--- In [email protected] <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>,
"Dave P" <wookielife...@...> wrote:
>
> I haven't been on here for a long time, and I apologize for just
barging in with a new topic, but I'm having a hard time with the
concept of mindfulness.
>
[Bill!] On this forum there is no such thing as 'barging in'. It's
your forum as much as anyone's.
> I have been suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) for a
long time, and lately it has gotten worse. I don't want to get into
details here, but it revolves around both ethical and health choices
in diet and just living.
>
> What I don't understand is how mindfulness can help, because to my
mind (pardon the pun) mindfulness means paying attention to
everything, and if anything OCD people pay too much attention. I worry
about everything, and intellectually I can understand just observing
my emotions, but there is the constant feeling that I MUST DO
SOMETHING, that if I don't do things right I will die. Hence I'm much
more vigilant.
>
> Am I getting the whole concept of mindfulness wrong? Is there
anything I can read that could help me with this?
>
[Bill!] You don't have the concept of 'mindfulness' wrong.
'Mindfulness' is as you said "...paying attention to everything."
But what is 'everything'? In the sense of zen 'mindfulness',
'everything' is just what is before you at this moment and is revealed
to you through your senses. 'Everything' is NOT memories of yesterday
or projections of tomorrow. Only now. 'Everything' is also not
discursive thought or valuations or classifications. 'Everything' is
Just THIS and Just NOW.
Also zen 'mindfulness' does not include attachemnts. There are no
attachments to 'mindfulness'. Things come and they go. There is no
attempt to 'own' them or control them, or keep them from going.
But most importantly, and although I am not a medical doctor, I do not
think even zen 'mindfulness' will help 'cure' OCD. The best case is
that zen could help you cope with OCD, accept it as your reality,
understand the affect it has on you and learn to love your life and
it's uniqueness.
What could you read to help you with this? I could recommend any
number of zen-related books, Buddhist Sutras, Tao Te Ching, Christian
Bible especially the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus, Walden
Pond by Emerson, etc... There are many.
BUT more effective than reading is to do zen (or Chan) meditation
(zazen); and there are many books and internet help sites that could
get you started on that. HOWEVER, my best advice for you is to find a
zen teacher in your area and meet with him/her. They would have the
best chance to suggest a path that would be best for you.
Good luck...Bill!
