That's interesting, Genry, thanks... Currently, each time I find my mind racing against my wishes, and a few seconds after deciding not to think about anything other than "blank" -- I find my disobediant mind off frolicking in the fields while meanwhile, I f-up what I'm currently working on. I doubt I'm alone in this situation. I figured practice at drawing my thoughts back under my control -- and even making deliberate training, such as sitting, might teach it by repetition. Its working slowly...
However, your post brings up a hopeful method. Rather than brining my mind back to the task (especially if it itself is all that critical) -- I'll follow the anxious thought... I don't mean to endulge in its thinking -- but to endulge in the feeling of my anxiousness, my pressured feeling, the sensation that something critical is being left undone. Perhaps I should investigate the feeling, like looking for the source of a headache (the eybrows?... no... the neck?...no... clamping my jaw? ... yes! Eureka, I'll stop THAT). Maybe by following it to it source -- listening to it (or trying to 'become it', if you will) I will find what the fuss is about and soothe it. Its likely something stupid like fixing my posture to breath easier -- or doing something silly on my task list which is worrisome -- or using my body which feels unused (exercise) -- or who knows... perhaps nothing, and then the question is, whether the anxiety is dispelled on its own. What do you all think? If I follow the source of the anxious feeling, rather than endulge it, and rather than fight it -- will I uncover anything -- or by finding nothing to uncover will it then reduce on its own? Or is this just another anxious excuse to endulge the 'self'? Rod Scholl -----Original Message----- From: Rev Genryu [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 7:38 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Zen] reflection Not to entirely disagree, but how about instead of trying to break down the barriers, try to become the barrier/not separate yourself from the barrier, and see what happens? Genryu ----- Original Message ----- From: mackkup To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 1:35 AM Subject: [Zen] reflection i constantly have to remind myself to look inside at my thoughts but very often i loose focus. outside distractions, i admit get in the way of my inner studies. life is as difficult as you make it. things happen to us in life and how we deal with it is what counts. i have put up many barriers in my life and now im working on breaking them down. its a long journey but all i can do is take one step at a time. Mack [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers. At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide! http://us.click.yahoo.com/hjtSRD/3MnJAA/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/
