buddhism

, , , , , ,

Default State of Mind

, , , , , ,

This little rant comes from a reply to conversation I was having with my Mom:

I trust that I am easily fooled. I fool myself all the time. Maybe fool is too harsh a word, but surely I am easily confused and misdirected. As much as anyone else.

I'm very curious about how people become aware of their blind spots. Everybody has a story in their head that's playing out while the real world is ticking away in front of them.

Where do people go when they are on autopilot? Do they know they've checked out? By that I mean, what story is being told- what narrative is unfolding- while the real world streams on by.

The problem I see here is that most people don't know they live in a story and don't believe they are easily confused. Maybe there is a disconnect in that having a thought isn't what I would consider thinking.

Thinking is a directed action. Having a thought is more like having gas. It just bubbles up.

What I am most curious about is the stimulus for expanded perspective and objective reorientation to an internal narrative.

What is it that helps people go, "Oh, well that's just silly."

I trust people when they display the capacity to scrutinize their own thoughts, language, and actions. This character trait Is often noticeable by how good someone is at getting other people to relax and smile.

Remember what the Buddha said, "Enlightenment arises from the realization that we are all full of shit most of the time".

, , , ,

Notes on Mark Epstein's, Thoughts Without a Thinker

, , , ,

This year I invested in reading, studying and practicing meditation. One of the best books I came across was Mark Epstein’s Thoughts Without a Thinker . Rather than try to regurgitate everything I’m just going to share a set of questions/quotes/statements from my notes.

  • Even pain can be interesting. Sitting in meditation is often about investing in the examination of discomfort. When it hurts is when you start learning. Pulling a way, trying to hide from pain gives it leverage. Welcoming it, trying to look at it closely, it transforms.

  • Other people, our own minds, and death. These are our challenges. Our greatest fear.

  • What are we afraid to learn?

  • Resistance, you are that which u resist.

  • Transitional space, your teddy bear, the security blanket. The totems that carry between the maturation points of our lives.

  • These weeds, these waves, they will help u. The things that obstruct you, you need.

  • Powers of observation, not judgement.

  • How do u contribute to your pain?

  • When something could have happened but did not. This lives in the flesh not the words.

  • Meditation on your mother...carefully tread.

  • The family is the worst invention of God that never existed

  • Meditation has a certain culture bias.

  • Am I lovable? Estranged or enmeshed?