Thursday, October 22, 2015

Calming The Mind-Step 2
Please feel free to back up a post or two below to see how I began this conversation with the mind in order to calm it. Comments and responses are always appreciated.
 

Dear Mind: if you are going to attempt to know the hearts and minds of others, which I know you will, how about knowing mine? Knowing mine (minding my mind) and remembering the positives. There are so many that there are some that I’m probably not aware of. Perhaps you can remind me of that! Oh, and while you’re at it, remind me of my strengths, previous successes, and perhaps other encouraging words (we tend to think using words).  

Dear You: this is step 2 for calming the mind.  When you notice yourself being self-critical, which may not have been too long ago, just notice the words and language that you are using toward yourself. Are you calling yourself names, for example? This approach to calming the mind is known as Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy (CBT), which I use and refer to often.  It helps to cultivate what James Swartz refers to as a Reasonable Mind-a mind that is not inclined toward superstitions, opinions, and beliefs that do not correspond to common sense and reason (How to Attain Enlightenment: The Vision of Non— Duality). Just by noticing the negativity that is being attended to by your mind and being aware of how your mind is working in this regard, is a significant step toward being released from it.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Calming the Mind - Step 2


 STEP TWO:

 Dear Mind-this one you’re really not going to like to lose because you do it all the time:

 
 DON’T PRESUME TO KNOW THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OTHERS.

 Why? For two reasons:  First, you’re not that good at it, and Second -even when or if you do get it right, it does not help my situation, and more often just makes things worse. A lot of my emotional discomfort, anger, and anxiety, and sometimes sadness comes from your believing people are thinking or saying something that has to do with you when it doesn’t.