A few schools of thought on that: either a gradual stripping away of culturally inherited mindsets, possibly taking multiple lifetimes; a sudden burst of insight brought about by willful concentration; or deep, preconscious doubts about the reality of time and consciousness based on close and non-judgmental observation of the mind's contents at each moment. Take your pick!
Ooooohhhhh! The colours! I have some more specific advice about that:
"When the meditator perceives any sensory object, he is not to dwell upon it in the ordinary egotistical way. He should rather examine the very process of perception itself. He should watch the feelings that arise and the mental activities that follow. He should note the changes that occur in his own consciousness as a result. In watching all these phenomena, the meditator must be aware of the universality of what he is seeing. That initial perception will spark pleasant, unpleasant or neutral feelings. That is a universal phenomenon. It occurs in the mind of others just as it does in his, and he should see that clearly. Following these feelings various reactions may arise. He may feel greed, lust, or jealousy. He may feel fear, worry, restlessness or boredom. These reactions are universal. He simple notes them and then generalizes. He should realize that these reactions are normal human responses and can arise in anybody."
- Ven. Henepola Gunaratana, Mindfulness in Plain English
5 comments:
Yikes! It's driving me crazy! How do you make it stop?
A few schools of thought on that: either a gradual stripping away of culturally inherited mindsets, possibly taking multiple lifetimes; a sudden burst of insight brought about by willful concentration; or deep, preconscious doubts about the reality of time and consciousness based on close and non-judgmental observation of the mind's contents at each moment. Take your pick!
I think she means the flahing colours!
Ooooohhhhh! The colours! I have some more specific advice about that:
"When the meditator perceives any sensory object, he is not to dwell upon it in the ordinary egotistical way. He should rather examine the very process of perception itself. He should watch the feelings that arise and the mental activities that follow. He should note the changes that occur in his own consciousness as a result. In watching all these phenomena, the meditator must be aware of the universality of what he is seeing. That initial perception will spark pleasant, unpleasant or neutral feelings. That is a universal phenomenon. It occurs in the mind of others just as it does in his, and he should see that clearly. Following these feelings various reactions may arise. He may feel greed, lust, or jealousy. He may feel fear, worry, restlessness or boredom. These reactions are universal. He simple notes them and then generalizes. He should realize that these reactions are normal human responses and can arise in anybody."
- Ven. Henepola Gunaratana, Mindfulness in Plain English
You're a nut!
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