I like the idea of giving my brain a simple task like paying attention to my breathing to occupy it while I calm myself. Yes, attention wanders and is prone to fall away, but isn't that the core task of meditation. To bring awareness back as it wanders. I also like your idea of Being in X, but see it most useful for just being within myself. For example I might incorporate this idea by paying attention to my breathing and being in my skin. That seems like a powerful meditation.
For the world around me, I tend to use photography to focus my attention on the external and to blur the boundary between other and self. This too can be a powerful meditation.
Ah yes, the good old ‘pay attention’ sounds exactly like something my high school teacher used to bark at us before handing out a pop quiz. ‘Be in X’ is a much kinder invitation.
I really appreciated your essay, Baird... you mention and distinguish ,"Being in X as opposed to paying attention to X".
Pardon me if I'm just intellectualizing, or just have gone down the wrong rabbit hole.
One obstacle to getting "fresh insight" into our thoughts and fears are those that crop up automatically. I understand that is where breathing helps and prepares us.
I read Khrishnamurti (Freedom of the Known) when I was 20. He tries to explain the gap between the observer and the observed.
"...is the observer who says, "I am afraid, any different from the thing observed which is fear.? The observer is fear and when that is realised there is no longer any dissipation of energy in the effort to get rid of fear, and the time-space interval between the observer and the observed disappears. When you see that you are a part of fear, not separate from it,--that you are fear--then you cannot do anything about it ; then fear comes totally to an end.
Of course, I haven't mastered his approach, I still feel fear, but I like his hyoothesis.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Mark! I think Krishnamurti is indeed going down one of those philosophical rabbit holes. The thinkers I value the most write very clearly, even about complex matters.
This is why I love playing the piano…I’m totally unable to think of anything else once I start reading the music 🎶👍
Composing your own music is even better…I’ve been known to lose whole days doing that 🤣
Yes, it’s the same flow immersion that shuts off that internal voice with all its worries and plans!
I like the idea of giving my brain a simple task like paying attention to my breathing to occupy it while I calm myself. Yes, attention wanders and is prone to fall away, but isn't that the core task of meditation. To bring awareness back as it wanders. I also like your idea of Being in X, but see it most useful for just being within myself. For example I might incorporate this idea by paying attention to my breathing and being in my skin. That seems like a powerful meditation.
For the world around me, I tend to use photography to focus my attention on the external and to blur the boundary between other and self. This too can be a powerful meditation.
Ah yes, the good old ‘pay attention’ sounds exactly like something my high school teacher used to bark at us before handing out a pop quiz. ‘Be in X’ is a much kinder invitation.
Hope you had a good weekend, Baird.
Happy Monday
Thanks Neela. Yes, “pay attention” feels like work. “Be” is just a bit more like gentle coaxing. As you know so well, words matter!
Have a good week ahead. 🌱
thank you Baird……….
I really appreciated your essay, Baird... you mention and distinguish ,"Being in X as opposed to paying attention to X".
Pardon me if I'm just intellectualizing, or just have gone down the wrong rabbit hole.
One obstacle to getting "fresh insight" into our thoughts and fears are those that crop up automatically. I understand that is where breathing helps and prepares us.
I read Khrishnamurti (Freedom of the Known) when I was 20. He tries to explain the gap between the observer and the observed.
"...is the observer who says, "I am afraid, any different from the thing observed which is fear.? The observer is fear and when that is realised there is no longer any dissipation of energy in the effort to get rid of fear, and the time-space interval between the observer and the observed disappears. When you see that you are a part of fear, not separate from it,--that you are fear--then you cannot do anything about it ; then fear comes totally to an end.
Of course, I haven't mastered his approach, I still feel fear, but I like his hyoothesis.
Any thoughts?
Thanks for reading and commenting, Mark! I think Krishnamurti is indeed going down one of those philosophical rabbit holes. The thinkers I value the most write very clearly, even about complex matters.
Have a good Cali summer! ☀️🌴