Mike..i appreciate this advice..sometimes i forget and let my mind chatter on
and on and on and it goes around in circles
......i do not do cones or wine anymore..those days are long gone..i had a
stroke in feb 2002.. so i have to look after my brain...i might have been
rendered blind as it was in that era of brain..
this is good advice..and just what i needed..i will do as you say and many
thanks...i also think the full moon has influences on me
i like the way you have described the monkey..
i will picture a beautiful sandy white deserted beach and move from there..
.once again thank you .
.all the best...
cheers merle
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!
