Merle, I know you asked Bill! the question about your "chattering mind", but what interests me is that you don't want advice regarding breathing. Concentrating on the breath is the best and most frequently recommended method of calming an unsettled mind, but we have to take you at your word that this is not what you want at this particular moment.
So what are the alternatives? When I used to find myself in your position, and before I could always rely on the breath to calm my mind, I would focus on a pleasant thought. It could be a fantasy, something or some situation you want for yourself, setting a goal and going thru the steps required to reach that goal etc. In other words, creating a pleasant mental atmosphere out of that incessant chattering. This is only the first stage tho. Once I'd reach that pleasant, but still mind-moving place, I would focus on my body. Try 'scanning' (placing your attention) on different sensations in the body. It might be an itch on your arm, or the pressure of your bum on the seat/bed, a pleasant sensation in your tummy, it could even be a neutral sensation somewhere inside your body. If you find that your mind is beginning to settle at this stage, then you could try focusing on the sensation of the breath inhaling and exhaling thru the nostrils. If you stick with this sensation (if your mind wanders just gently bring it back to the sensation in the nostrils) you will more than likely find that your mind becoming one-pointed. This is the entry point of samadhi and if you get there your adventures have just begun! Remember, your kidneys produce urine just the same way your marrow produces blood. You have no control over this. Similarly, the brain produces thoughts - it's what it does. Be gentle with yourself. Let the thoughts pass by like clouds - just don't cling to them like a monkey swinging thru the jungle from branch to branch. Otherwise, whap on some Floyd and smoke a cone and enjoy yourself! Sleep loose! Mike ________________________________ From: Merle Lester <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, 30 October 2012, 21:08 Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: the story of the cloud Billllllllllllll beautiful!..did you sail the 7 seas?..... pity i get seasick!..i have a question? how do i stop my chattering mind? last night it would not stop..hence no sleep..no don't tell me to breathe..that did not work either the moon is full and i feel like i am going to explode merle Merle, My mind used to be kind of unruly, but never extremely so. It's pretty calm most of the time now. Here is a photo of my boat OB-LA-DI under sail. It was a 51-ft Formosa cutter-rigged pilothouse ketch: ...Bill!
