You mean, "if I'm observing my mind, then what's doing the observing?"
Well, your mind, of course :-)
I think it's not a real difficulty -- just points up how ingrained the subject/object dichotomy is in our language and culture. We say our mind is watching itself, which makes it seem like it would need a mirror or something, but really nothing like that happens -- there's nothing reflexive going on at all. We're just aware of our thoughts, subject & object at the same time.
Again I didn't sit last night. Home today with a really nasty headache. I will sit today, if only for three minutes. In fact I'll do it right now. Too embarassing to go talking like Mr Meditation (I still get a kick out of that!) if I'm not sitting.
Dale: Hope the headache has gone by the time you read this. And I hope you feel better too for just sitting for the 3 minutes. And as far as I am concerned you will always be Mr Meditation .. .. :-)
Yes, I feel meditation as a very focussed subject/object awareness -when it is going well, that is. Other times for me it's a repetitive action, ie - constantly bringing the mind back to the breath and the heart centre.
Sat today. Thank goodness. Did not enjoy the way my mood nosedived yesterday after deliberately choosing not to sit (and the vet's visit actually was a lame excuse). Particularly as there was slightly disquieting news during the course of the visit. But this morning's meditation set me up for a day which included a new job, which went fine. And I am pretty sure, knowing I would check in here was a pretty good incentive to sit. So thank you all again. I love getting your input as well.
Dale, AKA Mr. Meditation, I'm so sorry your head hurts.
Mary, glad things went well with the new job. I hope your furry companion is okay.
Difficult run of days, haven't been able to bring myself to meditate for two of them. Will make an effort later today, and check in tomorrow with my success story.
I think being 'Mr Meditation' - sharing what you've read and thought and experienced on the subject - is ok and useful, and none of us confuse that with actually doing it. We all know the gap between knowledge/intention and action too well :-)
Sittings rather short for the past couple of days. Feeling physically dreadful with bad cold or flu or something and high temperature keeping me awake at night, so very little energy. Actually, that makes meditation easier in a way - less mental energy shooting off in all directions. I find the same with work - sometimes easier to get routine work done when I feel ill, which is both interesting and dispiriting, I think. Perhaps a useful reminder that higgledy-piggledy, all-over-the-place mind is not a bad thing, it is the nature of being alive. You wouldn't want it to be easier to control - the difficulty, rather than a reason for giving up, is the whole point.
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sat today in lovely late autumn light. getting back in the swing.
Sometimes I get confused with who is observing. Does anyone else?
You mean, "if I'm observing my mind, then what's doing the observing?"
Well, your mind, of course :-)
I think it's not a real difficulty -- just points up how ingrained the subject/object dichotomy is in our language and culture. We say our mind is watching itself, which makes it seem like it would need a mirror or something, but really nothing like that happens -- there's nothing reflexive going on at all. We're just aware of our thoughts, subject & object at the same time.
Again I didn't sit last night. Home today with a really nasty headache. I will sit today, if only for three minutes. In fact I'll do it right now. Too embarassing to go talking like Mr Meditation (I still get a kick out of that!) if I'm not sitting.
Dale: Hope the headache has gone by the time you read this. And I hope you feel better too for just sitting for the 3 minutes. And as far as I am concerned you will always be Mr Meditation .. ..
:-)
Yes, I feel meditation as a very focussed subject/object awareness -when it is going well, that is. Other times for me it's a repetitive action, ie - constantly bringing the mind back to the breath and the heart centre.
Sat today. Thank goodness. Did not enjoy the way my mood nosedived yesterday after deliberately choosing not to sit (and the vet's visit actually was a lame excuse). Particularly as there was slightly disquieting news during the course of the visit. But this morning's meditation set me up for a day which included a new job, which went fine. And I am pretty sure, knowing I would check in here was a pretty good incentive to sit. So thank you all again. I love getting your input as well.
Dale, AKA Mr. Meditation, I'm so sorry your head hurts.
Mary, glad things went well with the new job. I hope your furry companion is okay.
Difficult run of days, haven't been able to bring myself to meditate for two of them. Will make an effort later today, and check in tomorrow with my success story.
Hope your head's feeling better, Dale.
I think being 'Mr Meditation' - sharing what you've read and thought and experienced on the subject - is ok and useful, and none of us confuse that with actually doing it. We all know the gap between knowledge/intention and action too well :-)
Sittings rather short for the past couple of days. Feeling physically dreadful with bad cold or flu or something and high temperature keeping me awake at night, so very little energy. Actually, that makes meditation easier in a way - less mental energy shooting off in all directions. I find the same with work - sometimes easier to get routine work done when I feel ill, which is both interesting and dispiriting, I think. Perhaps a useful reminder that higgledy-piggledy, all-over-the-place mind is not a bad thing, it is the nature of being alive. You wouldn't want it to be easier to control - the difficulty, rather than a reason for giving up, is the whole point.
Hope your headache has left, Dale.
Still here, still sitting...another sunny day starting, but very cold!
...and you, too , Jean - hope you're feeling better.
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