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My mind is settling, what should I do with it?

SimplifySimplify Veteran
edited May 2012 in Buddhism Basics
I do not know why but I am in a period where my mind can rest quite easily. I can sit here quite easily without thought, just little movements of awareness.

I suppose the answer is to watch whats going on, the sensations of the body, of the emotions and the mind.

Comments

  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited May 2012
    My lama says to remember the heart reason for meditating. Just touch into it every once in awhile.

    I don't think there is any 'certain' thing to do. We all have our experiences. I am still trying to get to a more channeled concentration so I will let you know what I do when I catch up. I perceive it might be a realization in itself to see that you don't have to do anything! So whatever you do is an extra in excess of what you have to do.
  • SimplifySimplify Veteran
    The heart reason? What is that? Like the core reason?
  • Floating_AbuFloating_Abu Veteran
    I do not know why but I am in a period where my mind can rest quite easily. I can sit here quite easily without thought, just little movements of awareness.

    I suppose the answer is to watch whats going on, the sensations of the body, of the emotions and the mind.
    Dear @Simplify,

    Why do you need to know what to do with 'it'?

    Abu
  • taiyakitaiyaki Veteran
    At this point it would be best to examine the three marks. Move your practice towards insight and experience the three marks.
  • SimplifySimplify Veteran
    I am curious what others have found, not to mimic or pretend but it might be helpful to know a direction to look, to see if indeed there is something there.

    Some say put the awareness on a word, others an image, others the breath. I'm not sure why there is this suggestion of limiting awareness to a portion of the content.

    I am interested in all this because I've found my mind creates delusional meaning, it creates 'objects' from perception and holds on, but before the mind does this there is feeling, perhaps hurt or fear or pleasure. There is also this seeking of the heart. I would like to understand the whole process of my mind and sensation, everything that is going on. My instinct tells me to look at everything but then I remember that so many people just watch the breath. Why limit it? Or if not limit it what general advice is there?

  • zenffzenff Veteran
    edited May 2012
    Drop body and mind.
    Don't think about it.
    (More imortantly; don't ask me what it means.)

    http://thestupidway.blogspot.com/2008/04/zazen-notes-iii-body-mind-drop-off.html
  • SabreSabre Veteran
    Doing, we people are always doing, or craving for doing. Just be, is my advice, similar to what Jeffrey stated.

    Now don't get me wrong. Don't think your work is done. All advice of watching the breath and doing insight practices are very good, but don't just do them to get somewhere else, to get a specific insight, to become something or someone. What's wrong with this moment?
  • Floating_AbuFloating_Abu Veteran
    edited May 2012
    I am curious what others have found, not to mimic or pretend but it might be helpful to know a direction to look, to see if indeed there is something there.

    Some say put the awareness on a word, others an image, others the breath. I'm not sure why there is this suggestion of limiting awareness to a portion of the content.

    I am interested in all this because I've found my mind creates delusional meaning, it creates 'objects' from perception and holds on, but before the mind does this there is feeling, perhaps hurt or fear or pleasure. There is also this seeking of the heart. I would like to understand the whole process of my mind and sensation, everything that is going on. My instinct tells me to look at everything but then I remember that so many people just watch the breath. Why limit it? Or if not limit it what general advice is there?

    Hi @Simplify

    Your practice sounds fine.

    Please keep in mind this is a general internet :) bulletin Board filled with well meaning and chatty Buddhist folk. It's a wonderful thing for companionship and pleasure (or arguments and debate) but it can also be an awful impediment when it comes to real life practice.

    Some will say East, others West, another North, and of course another will say Up.

    My suggestion to you is to find a good center and guide in real life. If you cannot do this, then you will be best to at least find instruction in one tradition via an introductory opportunity and then follow that guidance. If you cannot do that, then it is a matter of books and guidance from teachers that are well known and depending on your tradition, you might be able to get some email support. Failing all that then you would need to have enough practice experience to discern and evaluate between all the different advice on the internet you will no doubt receive :)

    I can give my uncalled for opinion -- specific to what you say only:

    If you are doing zazen, let your mind continue to rest as such - your mind will stay clear, open, alert, even peaceful. There is no need for you to now limit back to an object or item nor will you need to discursively apply the 3 marks. And the reason is because if you are in a genuine state of meditation, those things are natural and unbidden -- and then they will be genuine, not thoughts on top of theory -- but have NO expectations, just do as you are.

    AND and this is a big #and# that has helped me immeasurably - try not to have any expectations of your sit/s or so called progress. Peaceful today, rocky tomorrow, peaceful for years, rocky for one, good sit, bad sit, fat sit, ugly sit, happy sit, giggly sit -- just keep continuing. Just like feeding the cat and onto the day you go. Your practice will unfold because it is the Dharma and the Dharma always unfolds if you are true to it. At least this is my experience.

    With best wishes and sincere thanks for your good practice from another nosy traveller,

    Abu
  • Floating_AbuFloating_Abu Veteran
    edited May 2012
    I am curious what others have found, not to mimic or pretend but it might be helpful to know a direction to look, to see if indeed there is something there.

    Some say put the awareness on a word, others an image, others the breath. I'm not sure why there is this suggestion of limiting awareness to a portion of the content.

    I am interested in all this because I've found my mind creates delusional meaning, it creates 'objects' from perception and holds on, but before the mind does this there is feeling, perhaps hurt or fear or pleasure. There is also this seeking of the heart. I would like to understand the whole process of my mind and sensation, everything that is going on. My instinct tells me to look at everything but then I remember that so many people just watch the breath. Why limit it? Or if not limit it what general advice is there?

    PS With the caveat again that I would recommend you find an experienced meditation/Buddhist guide if you can as they can evaluate you better in real life -- If your stability is genuinely strong, there is nothing wrong with investigating. Meditating is also learning. I think your instinct is good, go with it and see how you go. A general principle would be pay close attention -- always & look at (don't get carried away) so you can investigate but always try to maintain your presence also. Practice furthers.

    BW,
    Abu
  • DairyLamaDairyLama Veteran Veteran
    I do not know why but I am in a period where my mind can rest quite easily.
    Could I borrow it for a while? :p
  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    I am curious what others have found, not to mimic or pretend but it might be helpful to know a direction to look, to see if indeed there is something there.

    Some say put the awareness on a word, others an image, others the breath. I'm not sure why there is this suggestion of limiting awareness to a portion of the content.

    I am interested in all this because I've found my mind creates delusional meaning, it creates 'objects' from perception and holds on, but before the mind does this there is feeling, perhaps hurt or fear or pleasure. There is also this seeking of the heart. I would like to understand the whole process of my mind and sensation, everything that is going on. My instinct tells me to look at everything but then I remember that so many people just watch the breath. Why limit it? Or if not limit it what general advice is there?

    It's more like the "focusing of concentration" rather than "limiting of awareness". Putting the mind on the breath and keeping it there develops concentration which allows the arising of insight. If your instinct tell you to open up the awareness and look at everything, then do that. :) There is a zen technique called "Shikantaza" that does just that. You could also look into "Vipassana" style as both of these styles are generally referred to as insight meditation.

  • driedleafdriedleaf Veteran
    Hi @Simplify

    We need to remind ourselves that we need to find a way out of suffering. Perhaps with our settled mind we are one step ahead. Like @taiyaki said, we need to experience the three marks. Then maybe that will help us let go.

    metta
  • SabreSabre Veteran
    edited May 2012
    Why need an experience, before you can let go?
    That way letting go is never going to work.

    "I'll be peaceful, but first I need to do this this and this."

    No.

    Just enjoy the peaceful mind and see how more peaceful it can become, which is much more deeper than most can imagine. Out of this peace, insight can arise naturally.
  • taiyakitaiyaki Veteran
    Experiencing the three marks is letting go or letting be.
    And letting be or letting go is experiencing the three marks.

    Same difference.

    Actually I'd really focus on an inquiry into what takes you out of a settled mind. Where do you contract? What makes you contract?

    What do you give up your peace for?

    It's a much interesting and worthy inquiry once we can have a settled mind.
  • Floating_AbuFloating_Abu Veteran
    I do not know why but I am in a period where my mind can rest quite easily.
    Could I borrow it for a while? :p

    :D
  • pegembarapegembara Veteran
    My mind is settling, what should I do with it?

    Contemplate thus: This is peaceful. What is it that will disturb this peace?

    Then have a read at this sutta:
    "The eye is burning, forms are burning, eye-consciousness is burning, eye-contact is burning, also whatever is felt as pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant that arises with eye-contact for its indispensable condition, that too is burning. Burning with what? Burning with the fire of lust, with the fire of hate, with the fire of delusion. I say it is burning with birth, aging and death, with sorrows, with lamentations, with pains, with griefs, with despairs.

    "The ear is burning, sounds are burning...

    "The nose is burning, odors are burning...

    "The tongue is burning, flavors are burning...

    "The body is burning, tangibles are burning...

    "The mind is burning, ideas are burning, mind-consciousness is burning,
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn35/sn35.028.nymo.html
  • Floating_AbuFloating_Abu Veteran
    Run from the site, Simplify :)
  • SabreSabre Veteran
    When one can be without thoughts, this is just the start of getting peaceful. The mind can go much more peaceful and more strong. For example it can lose all sense impressions, going inward and being even more still. But this does not usually happen by changing the practice into deliberately examining things or contemplating. Which in themselves are not bad things, of course, but it is also wise to just keep with the breath (or other meditation object) and see how strong mindfulness can become.

    Just thought I'd repeat this because I am apparently one of the few who think this, but I think it is important. Remember that the Buddha first steadied the mind before the contemplation that lead to his enlightenment.

    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.019.than.html
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