When we think of 'mindfulness', we may think of not being distracted,
but distraction fills the mind just as effectively. Silence, is the
ultimate distraction.
Concentration or distraction, different in form only. Both are moments
of attention to this and not that, in that moment, then gone. Effort
applied to cultivate mindfulness is often merely a distraction from
distractions. Mindfulness presents formlessly in all forms. Attempts to
be mindful, to wrest it from the rest, naturally will fail to grasp this.
Concentration cannot free the mind, distraction cannot hold it. Thoughts
come and go effortlessly. This is not a problem. Following them or
ignoring them, grasping and rejecting them - in relation to self -
reveals ordinary mind's habitual ignorance of Original mind.
Mindfulness allows dis-tractions to serve as reminders not to seek traction.
KG
On 9/21/2012 1:51 AM, Anthony Wu wrote:
Bill!,
Some guests are stubborn. You can tell them you are busy or write down
what they want, they still insist on sitting on your sofa and making
tea out of your teapot. Master Seung Sahn has a koan where a burly man
keeps dropping ash on a Buddha image, and nothing can dissuage them.
He is also strong that there is no way you or your family can beat
him. What should you do? I have not had the answer to this koan.
Anthony
*From:* Bill! <[email protected]>
*To:* [email protected]
*Sent:* Friday, 21 September 2012, 9:40
*Subject:* Re: [Zen] invasion
Anthony,
I was always told to just let the thoughts 'flow through you',
acknowledge them but then let them go. The teaching analogy that went
with this is 'when you're busy working in your house and someone comes
and knocks on your door, acknowledge them but tell them you're busy
and ask them to come back later. Don't invite them in for tea and a
conversation.'
Some zen practitioners I know suggest keeping a notebook and
pen/pencil near you when you meditate. That way if a thought comes
that you just cannot get rid of you can write it down, and then can go
back to meditating with the assurance you will attend to the thought
later.
I've never done that nor felt the need to do that, but it might be
worth a try if these thoughts/questions are keeping you from meditating.
...Bill!
--- In mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com, Anthony Wu <wuasg@...> wrote:
>
> KG,
> Â
> Some say you should not suppress questions when you meditate, but
let them come and go. Well they come here to stay. It takes time and
effort to make them disappear.
> Â
> Anthony
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Kristopher Grey <kris@...>
> To: mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thursday, 20 September 2012, 9:38
> Subject: Re: [Zen] invasion
>
>
> Â
> Same problem is created by attachment to thinking "well" applies to
meditation! *L*
>
> Your "tip", perhaps pointier than it may appear! ;)
>
> KG
>
>
> On 9/19/2012 6:09 PM, Anthony Wu wrote:
>
> Â
> >Merle,
> >Â
> >I give yo a tip. If you always want questions to be answered, you
can never meditate well.
> >Â
> >Anthony
> >
> >
> >
>
