I certainly know one can beat oneself up -- over everything -- including beating oneself up over beating oneself up. I would sometimes conclude that "I need to beat myself only enough to motivate myself to right action, but not so much that the flogging's weaken me". This is a nightmare and completely the wrong approach. (Not to imply that any of you use it).
It seems when I accept my practice, and it underlies my motivation for acheiving a "zen what-have-you" and it underlies my "self-critquing" and it also underlies "my intellect trying to optimize the necessary amount of self-critiquing" -- then things become much much simpler. Each time I notice me doing any of the above, I actually sigh in relief! I think, "Thank god I noticed, now I can finally stop it." Thus the more I notice this extra behavior the more often i notice this extra behavior. If I ever think I'm not "advancing" quickly enough and worry this is too lackidaisical an approach, I think, "Thank god I noticed such pointless worries... now I will stop those too." Of course the stop only lasts about 5 seconds before some other hydra-head replaces it, but from what I understand this will change in time... Any critiques or advice for me? Rod Scholl -----Original Message----- From: mackkup [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 5:16 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Zen] Re: Can't we all just get along? (whine) i appreciate your reply and your right about beating myself up. thats just one of many walls im working on breaking down. slowly but surely i am working towards letting life flow instead of fighting it at times. during the times i fight i believe my ego has taken over and wants things to go its way hence the conflict, instead of letting things go the way. i am learning that i am responsible for my feelings and that the outside doesnt dictate the way you feel on the inside. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Has someone you know been affected by illness or disease? Network for Good is THE place to support health awareness efforts! http://us.click.yahoo.com/UwRTUD/UOnJAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
