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Mindworm mantras
Simonthepilgrim
Veteran
For the next couple of weeks, I shall be preparing to go on a week's study retreat. It has been quite a number of years since I had any formal training in the subject so I am revising.
One of the effects of intense reading and reflection, for me, is that I tend to pick up "mindworms". In the past, these have been songs or melodies. What usually happens is that I begin to notice that I am repeating a phrase or tune, over and over, subvocally. It appears to have been going on without my noticing, while I am doing something else which demands focused attention and appears to aid the process. When I sit back and allow my focus to rest, the repeated phrase drifts into awareness.
Sometimes it is annoying. The tunes that I used to get stuck in my head were inevitably the tritest, least 'cool'. Sometimes I could not even place the origin - which could become very annoying. Many times in the past, I have had to take specific action to stop the mindworm from its continuous loop.
The mindset in which I am working is what I refer to as an "autistic" one and I equate the mindworm with the accompanying, if mild, OCD.
What i have noticed recently is that whilst the process remains much the same, the content has changed. No longer do I hear Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep or showtunes. Now I find mantras and invocations running, like background music. As they rise into awareness, my reaction is also different: instead of trying to stop them with blocking tactics, I find myself allowing the ebb and flow, breathing with the words or tune.
I can only attribute this development to practice. Like the multiplication tables or grammar rules in Latin or mathematical formulae: constant, conscious repetition creates unconscious habits.
In a whimsical moment, I imagined myself as a prayer-wheel, set spinning by single-pointed focus.
The best part about it, for me, is that an annoyance has become a blessing. I can only trust that other beings may also benefit in some way.
One of the effects of intense reading and reflection, for me, is that I tend to pick up "mindworms". In the past, these have been songs or melodies. What usually happens is that I begin to notice that I am repeating a phrase or tune, over and over, subvocally. It appears to have been going on without my noticing, while I am doing something else which demands focused attention and appears to aid the process. When I sit back and allow my focus to rest, the repeated phrase drifts into awareness.
Sometimes it is annoying. The tunes that I used to get stuck in my head were inevitably the tritest, least 'cool'. Sometimes I could not even place the origin - which could become very annoying. Many times in the past, I have had to take specific action to stop the mindworm from its continuous loop.
The mindset in which I am working is what I refer to as an "autistic" one and I equate the mindworm with the accompanying, if mild, OCD.
What i have noticed recently is that whilst the process remains much the same, the content has changed. No longer do I hear Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep or showtunes. Now I find mantras and invocations running, like background music. As they rise into awareness, my reaction is also different: instead of trying to stop them with blocking tactics, I find myself allowing the ebb and flow, breathing with the words or tune.
I can only attribute this development to practice. Like the multiplication tables or grammar rules in Latin or mathematical formulae: constant, conscious repetition creates unconscious habits.
In a whimsical moment, I imagined myself as a prayer-wheel, set spinning by single-pointed focus.
The best part about it, for me, is that an annoyance has become a blessing. I can only trust that other beings may also benefit in some way.
0
Comments
It seems that I always have some playing through my head. Some form of tune or melody or rhythm or chewing gum commercial.
I do not know that it has ever caused me any great concern or disturbance - except for those around me who have wondered how I can have music or rhythms running through my head or fingers all the time.
-bf
And they were kung foo fighting ..........their hands are fast as lightening.........
Everybody know that song? It takes nothing to get it started in my head and then look out it can be there all day..........I know, I'm a freak.........go figure.....lol
Ok, shouldn't have said anything cause now it's in my head again..........lol
Wasn't it, in fact, a little bit frightening?
How they fought with expert timing.
You have to worry about those funky China men from funky Chinatown
Because I've heard they will be chopping you up and chopping you down.
Be careful.
-b (hiyah!)f
LOL
Someone who knows that silly song.........imagine all that running thro your head over and over all day........no wonder I'm on the edge... :crazy:
Palzang
I'm going to check it out now. I just LOVE techno!
-bf
That sucks! I gotta buy before I try?
-bf
-bf
My sister and I used to do the dance to Kung Foo Fighting when I was little. I loved that song. lol! I had it on 45.
I'm trying to replace some of these worms with "I take refuge..." Sometimes I imagine that if I get killed accidentally somehow before I have the chance to learn what I'm supposed to do during the death process I'll just repeat "I take refuge..." over and over. You know, like if I'm in a car plummeting over the edge of a cliff? If I've really imprinted the Refuge Vow deeply on my mind maybe it'll break though the panic and shock and I'll be able to recite it over and over in my head as I die.
Was this too much information...?
he'd leap out in front of you, in the street, and yell:
"E'body wath kanfoo faitin'!"
and adopt the two-fist stance. It was hillarious, when he was around three....
The novelty wore off when he was still doing it at 27......
It should play when you open the Palyul Productions home page. If it's not playing, let me know, and we'll fix it.
Palzang
Hmmm...a new twist on generosity!
Palzang
I heard it.
I'll give a 9, Dick, cuz it's got a good beat and I can dance to it. :rockon:
-bf
Hi all, the name Choo-Choo probably refers to a certain NUTBAG that was here in Australia in the 80's, this guy was around 23 . One day he decided that having obtained a certain degree of finesse in his chosen martial art (perhaps it was "no can do"), the type he was doing meant that at a high level-the human mind can "stop" anything-including trains...
He was last seen holding out his hand in a "stop" pose on the railway tracks while an express was headed straight for him-needless to say. it didn't "stop". he is postumously known as Choo-Choo.
Nutbag #2.
Around 10 years ago, at the melbourne zoo, another martial artist (get the pattern here?) decided that having obtained a certain degree of finesse in his chosen art, he entered the Lion enclosure (at night)-he stripped off his "civilian gear" and got into his Karate gear. he had told friends that his mind could control tigers and lions-they were "at one" with HIM.
The next morning, the keeper found a neatly stacked set of 'civilian gear and many shreds of blood-stained karate gear littering the compound.
His nickname, postumously given to him by me is 'Meat'.
:zombie: sorry.
kind regards,
Xrayman:-/
On a somewhat different note:
867-5309. 867-5309. 867-5309. 867-5309. 867-5309. 867-5309. (Don't have a pencil. Don't interrupt me till I get this number memorized.) For a good time... 867-5309. 867-5309. 867-5309. 867-5309. 867-5309. 867-5309. (Don't have a pencil. Don't interrupt me till I get this number memorized. I just gotta remember this number, just gotta.)
MAKES ME HIGH. So funny! Gotta laugh. Gotta laugh. Gotta laugh.
BF, it was not you.. so stop having delusions of granduer (sp?) and I'm supposed to know that... :nonono:
gonna Google it, Xray. I'll be right back.
I'll bet that people would pay for such a service.
Brian?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzKnz9hnL3Y
Dan Hartman singing 'I can dream about you'. :rockon:
See?
I told you.
The absolute worst one is "the Pina Colada song".... If you like Pina Colada, getting caught in the rain. etc. etc.
AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH :zombie: <- this has just happened to me-I just looked in the mirror!
The Barney Song? That's a sticker.......I also knew it was time to stop doing day care when my husband started singing over and over the Sesame Street Song......knew all the words.....from beginning to end.......
Speaking of which, did you know that Barry Manilow has made many, many millions of dollars writing jungles? He wrote the Coca Cola one, I think it was "Have a coke and a smile". He also wrote one for McDonald's that they used for a long time. Millions of dollars, I tell you. Millions. If I'm ever lucky enough to be reborn as a human on earth again I'm going to be a jingle writer and then I'm going to build schools and hospitals and dig wells and feed and clothe people and adopt a bunch of kids and establish free health care for everyone and free education and.....(Wouldn't it be great if rebirth could work like that?)
has anyone heard "the logical song"? Drives me nuts. But I just can't get it out of my head!-the singer has a "fingernails down blackboard" falsetto that makes my eyeballs bleed and eardrums split. AHHHH. :zombie:
okay stupid joke, I'm sorry :nonono:
But it was better than anything BF has come out with..:rolleyesc
You know what does it for me.....?
Two songs:
'Hotel California', Eagles and
'The power of Love' Jennifer Rush.
AAAAAARRRGH!! :eek2:
I LOVE Supertramp! I don't mind having their songs in my head at all.
You Make Me Feel Like Dancin' - Leo Sayer and
Seasons In The Sun - Terry Jack
NOT.
God, what horrible songs!
If they ever do get stuck in my head - all of you have my permission to use a baseball bat on my head to get them out. No foul. I promise.
-bf
Inthe Dharma - so are you.
Unfortunately, I completely understand where you are both coming from - !! :tongue2: