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Concentrated focus, how easy is that?
lobster
Crusty Veteran
How much energy can and do you expend on what eases your stress? For many it is a narrowing into their essentially useful qualities, assuming you can find any.
Most of the periphery practices, studies and implementations are narrowing into . . . well where?
For me it is right stuff, right on, right emphasis, right meditation and the odd rite to the powers that bee a buzzin'
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If all the scientists say about neuroplasticity is correct, then the part of my brain associated with the tip of my nose must be the size of a golf ball by now.
This map gives bare bones, taking the 8-fold Path and distilling it into 'three trainings', Morality, Concentration and Wisdom gives me a way to keep "it" simple enough to hold in mind in daily life. Doing that alone is new to me, getting more common thankfully.
I especially relate with how Morality leads to Concentration. As I clean up my life by respecting a moral code, my conscience is clear, I'm not hounded by regrets, fears of what I'm avoiding and the future consequences thereof, anxieties about relationships, all that. Not to say it's even close to perfect; but the 'cleaning up' has had HUGE impact on simple calmness of mind. I even notice that I'm so used to being preoccupied and worried that I sometimes feel preoccupied and worried for no reason, it's been such a constant in my life! Like a habit or something.
I like these kinds of posts!
Gassho!
http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/buddhist-strategies-for-coping-with-stress
If we talk about emphasis or methods that work for us, how many can we activate? How many of us have the potential, interior resources to focus and implement?
Still waiting for Homer Simpson salvation?
I'm normally not a praying man, but if you're up there, please save me Superman.
Most of us, speaking from experience, are armchair Buddhists before practicing the Path. We have to develop confidence that it works from retreats, contact with dharma, sangha and the conflict and resolution of the Buddha (PBUH) . . .
The distractions have to be placated, allowed resolution or made the impetus for focus.
Concentrating on the essential is hard when the latest bit of gossip is so yummy . . .
'Was Hitler a Buddhist?'
'Will my grandpa come back as a pet cat?'
'Why am I the only genuine practitioner with insight?'
'Do I actually have to do anything to become enlightened?'
etc etc
Once we have exhausted the useless behaviours and ideals, what then? Focus on the essential? What might they be? I would suggest everything that allows our awareness and good will to increase . . .
:wave:
1. The four noble truths 2. Right Speech 3. Right handling 4. Right ways of living .
5. Right efforts 6. Right views 7. Right Insight 8. Deepening.
These eight one are only the headlines. There is lots of content under the line.
For example Insicht is The Föour Pillars of Insight- The body- Mind and Feeling- Changes - 7 Awakenings.
It´s nice seeing these graphics but, even having studied Pali-Kanon for 40 Years, would`nt be able to understand that.
Pali-Canon ist not the original but the most original we have.
sakko
cultivate bodhi mind my friends