Also, earlier link did not point to a relevant article. Here is A better one:
http://lancashirecare.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/is-mindfulness-based-therapy-an-effective-intervention-for-obsessive-intrusive-thoughts-a-case-series/ Thanks, Chris Austin-Lane Sent from a cell phone On Jan 3, 2011, at 20:47, ChrisAustinLane <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Thanks, > Chris Austin-Lane > Sent from a cell phone > > On Jan 3, 2011, at 17:52, Mark Perew <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> >> For me, the bell timer is an indicator as to how much I was in to my >> mediation. When the bell sounds and I am surprised that it is sounding so >> soon, then that is a clue that I was present for my breathing and not for >> other things. > > Ha ha that is funny. It is the complete opposite for > me! > > The bell startles me when I have drifted off into distant thoughts. When I am > staying aware of right here right now, I am aware when the period is about to > end. Even to the point that I will know that this person on my left always > moves a hand about three minutes before the period ends, or this bell ringer > tenses up a > good ten seconds before picking up the mallet. > > At home if I am not fighting sitting, then an insence stick works fine, but > usually I am resistant and I use an electronic timer of some sort. > > I find that while my thoughts will touch on the time, like you say it is no > more so than on the other ten thousand things I could get worried about. > >> >> Yes, there are times when my mind wanders off to the bell, wondering when it >> will go off. But that's one of a million places my mind goes. The bell >> itself is no more or less of a distraction than anything else. >> >> 2011/1/3 Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明 <[email protected]> >> >> >> Good Morning Dave P, >> >> Let me explain why "gong" or timer or any external devices are not >> recommended for serious Chan practitioners. >> >> Because, when there is external dependency, our mind will be anxious in >> waiting for that "gong". It could be constantly asking itself, "where is >> the gong? when is it going to gong? Isn't it time yet? Haven't I sit >> enough time yet?, etc. etc." >> >> Sitting by TOTALLY FOLLOW our path of breathing with Back Straight, as per >> Mel, for a shorter time is more effective than longer time with only >> partially FOLLOW our path of breathing. >> >> Just do it and please don't worry too much of the technicality of our mind. >> Meaning follow your heart and not your mind. You will get better. >> >> JM >> Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can >> http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com >> http://www.heartchan.org >> >> On 1/3/2011 6:43 AM, Dave P wrote: >>> >>> >>> I wasn't clear about the CD. it is by John Daido loori, and >>> it is a gong followed by 10 minutes of silence completed by another gong. >>> >>> --- In [email protected], Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明 >>> <chan.j...@...> wrote: >>> > >>> > Hi Dave P, >>> > >>> > Great. You are willing to give it a try. Here is the link to my >>> > previous post on detailed instructions. >>> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/message/21977 >>> > >>> > The following instructions are non-negotiable. >>> > 1. Please don't use a CD. No music. No voice. Complete silence is >>> > the only way to rest your over-stressed mind. >>> > 2. Feel and sense the air passing into your nose, then throat, then >>> > lunch then your belly. We called it, "follow the path of your breathing." >>> > 3. Don't worry about the time, do as long as you can. 30 minutes is >>> > better, but 10 minutes is fine too. Slowly learn to sit longer. Don't >>> > worry if you failed to breath for ten minutes. Neither should you >>> > expect to belly breathe for 30 minutes. Just sit quietly FOLLOW the >>> > path of your breathing. >>> > 4. You must commit to do it every day at same time and same place in >>> > the morning before breakfast. Not while you are tired or agitated or >>> > upset. >>> > >>> > Let me know if you have any questions. Are my instructions clear? Can >>> > you commit to do it for a minimum of 30 days? >>> > >>> > JM >>> > >>> > >>> > Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can >>> > http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com >>> > http://www.heartchan.org >>> > >>> > >>> > On 1/2/2011 12:21 PM, Dave P wrote: >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > 1) Is ten minutes okay? I ask because I already have a >>> > > timed CD with a >>> > > 10 minute zazen session. >>> > > 2) I hope I don't come accross as distrustful of your suggestions! I >>> > > have had problems with that on the OCD board. >>> > > 3) I think I might have lost your instruction. I am aware of breathing >>> > > from the diaphram, and have been doing that for about >>> > > three years >>> > > rather irregularly. >>> > > >>> > > I really hope this doesn't come off as distrustful! >>> > > >>> > > --- In [email protected] <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>, >>> > > Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明 <chan.jmjm@> wrote: >>> > > > >>> > > > Dearest Dave, >>> > > > >>> > > > When we suffer, one of the symptoms is to be distrustful of every >>> > > > suggestion, because we have been cheated continuously far too long. >>> > > > Instead of questioning or thinking.... may I suggest.... >>> > > > >>> > > > If you could, please take fifteen minutes every day to do belly >>> > > > breathing for 30 days at same time and same place by >>> > > > following my >>> > > > instructions from my previous post. >>> > > > >>> > > > If you promise that you will commit to belly breathing for 30 days, I >>> > > > will help by transmit the blessing of GuanYin Bodhisatva to you. >>> > > > >>> > > > Deal? >>> > > > JM >>> > > > >>> > > > Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can >>> > > > http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com >>> > > > http://www.heartchan.org >>> > > > >>> > > > >>> > > > On 1/1/2011 9:39 AM, Dave P wrote: >>> > > > > >>> > > > > Here's another dillemma i've had. the idea that everything is under >>> > > > > control, and the difference between that and choice. There is the >>> > > > > phrase "pain is inevitable, suffering is optional." I think that >>> > > there >>> > > > > is truth in that, but I still feel that choosing to feel one may >>> > > > > nmeans that you have to ACT. That your actions have consequences >>> > > > > that >>> > > > > you cannot control, a notion that paralyzes me. Can mindfulness help >>> > > > > with that? If so, how? >>> > > > > >>> > > > > --- In [email protected] >>> > > <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com> >>> > > <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>, >>> > > > > Jue Miao Jing Ming - >>> > > > > 覺妙精æËÅ"Ž <chan.jmjm@> >>> > > > > wrote: >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > Happy New Year Ed, >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > Propose another word in place of "mindfulness" is a very >>> > > > > > challenging >>> > > > > > task. Let me explain. >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > In the practice and dealing with everyday life, we say "Be aware >>> > > but >>> > > > > not >>> > > > > > attached to", "focus but not focusing", "observe but not >>> > > observing", >>> > > > > are >>> > > > > > some of the terms we use while we translate from our Chinese text >>> > > > > > to >>> > > > > > English. In other words, "sync to the universal wisdom at every >>> > > moment, >>> > > > > > and not be attached to the meaning of the phenomena." is the >>> > > phrase we >>> > > > > > need to represent with a single word. >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > The most common general terms as a verb in the practice, we use >>> > > are "be >>> > > > > > aware", "sense", "feel", etc. i.e. "sense our breathing", "feel >>> > > > > > the >>> > > > > > chakra". They are usually terms applying also to emotions, >>> > > feelings as >>> > > > > > well as our general overall well being, physical and spiritual. >>> > > We can >>> > > > > > not separate our "true feeling" from our body or mind. >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > We are very careful not to consistently use the same word. >>> > > Especially >>> > > > > > the practice to "notice" the conditions of our body, mind and >>> > > spirit, >>> > > > > > could require different verb for a similar function. Chan teaching >>> > > > > > requires flexibility. >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > The purpose of Chan wordings are nothing but to wake up the >>> > > > > > practitioner, and not to set a path or a rule to follow. After >>> > > > > > 5,000 >>> > > > > > words, Diamond Sutra said only one thing, "Whatever you think it >>> > > is, it >>> > > > > > is not. It just is." >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > Perhaps a lot of times, I am guilty in becoming lazy and just say, >>> > > > > > "Shut up, Sit down and Stop thinking." >>> > > > > > LOL. >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can >>> > > > > > http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com >>> > > > > > http://www.heartchan.org >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > > On 1/1/2011 7:37 AM, ED wrote: >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > JM, >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > What is your proposed definition of 'mindfulness'? >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > --ED >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > --- In [email protected] >>> > > <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com> >>> > > > > <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>, Jue Miao Jing Ming - >>> > > > > ÃÆ'¨Â¦ÂºÃÆ'¥Â¦â„¢ÃÆ'§Â²Â¾ÃÆ'¦ËÅ"Ž >>> > > > > > > <chan.jmjm@> wrote: >>> > > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > Thank you JDB. Indeed we also teach "emptiness of mind". >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > Somehow the western Zen is stuck on the label of "mind" and >>> > > would not >>> > > > > > > let go.ÃÆ'‚ There is even a seminar about the small mind >>> > > > > > > and >>> > > big mind. >>> > > > > > > Though all journeys lead to the same place. >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > "Mind" is too close to "thinking". It can be easily >>> > > misunderstood and >>> > > > > > > misinterpreted. >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > We teach "empty your mind", "enhance your heart". And we >>> > > continue to >>> > > > > > > say "because heart is where we could unify our body, mind and >>> > > spirit." >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > Somehow, unify our body to the same physical structure as the >>> > > > > universe >>> > > > > > > is not emphasized in western Zen.ÃÆ'‚ Most of the >>> > > > > > > reading >>> > > that I have >>> > > > > > > encountered with focuses mainly on the mind and its awareness, >>> > > not on >>> > > > > > > the body and little on the spirit.ÃÆ'‚ Though we >>> > > > > > > constantly >>> > > talked >>> > > > > about >>> > > > > > > body, mind and spirit, but in essence, they are one and >>> > > > > inseparable.ÃÆ'‚ >>> > > > > > > Just like the universe. >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > In our school, awareness does not reside in the mind. >>> > > Awareness is a >>> > > > > > > function of our spirit, which reside in our heart.ÃÆ'‚ >>> > > "Heart" is not >>> > > > > > > the organic heart, but our "total well being", our "center" or >>> > > > > > > "ONE".ÃÆ'‚ Awareness enhancement helps us to be awakened >>> > > > > > > to the >>> > > > > Absolute >>> > > > > > > Awareness of the universe. >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > This brings this post to another question. What does Zen say >>> > > about >>> > > > > our >>> > > > > > > spirit? Our spiritual levels, our spiritual being, spiritual >>> > > karma, >>> > > > > > > the sixth, seventh and eighth consciousness? >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > After several years with this forum, I have read little about >>> > > > > these.ÃÆ'‚ >>> > > > > > > In other words, to be enlightened, we need to surpass karmic >>> > > > > hindrance >>> > > > > > > of body, mind and spirit. We need to work on all three. >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > Otherwise, we are just imagining and hoping. >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > On this New Year Day, I hope this post is not too >>> > > objectionable to >>> > > > > ALL. >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > Happy New Year and thank you for your patience and >>> > > understanding for >>> > > > > > > all the years. >>> > > > > > > JMJM >>> > > > > > > Head Teacher >>> > > > > > > Order Of Chan >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can >>> > > > > > > http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com >>> > > > > > > http://www.heartchan.org >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > On 12/31/2010 10:12 PM, Rev. Joriki Dat Baker wrote: >>> > > > > > >> ÃÆ'‚ >>> > > > > > >> Or the emptiness of mind. >>> > > > > > >> I wonder if something similar could be said about mindfulness. >>> > > > > > >> "Mindful" in the Western sense seems to be directing your >>> > > attention >>> > > > > > >> in one direction, However, maybe a better translation is "mind >>> > > > > > >> fullness," as in you experience everything with the fullness >>> > > of your >>> > > > > > >> mind. Or am I way off here? >>> > > > > > >> >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>> > > > > >>> > > > > >>> > > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > >>> >> >> >> >> >> >>
