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Acknowledging thoughts

sandysandy Explorer
edited September 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Couldn't decide whether this should go here or in meditation, but I suppose you can acknowledge your thoughts on a regular basis anyways so this sub forum seemed to be a good fit.

I keep running across the instruction to acknowledge any stray thoughts you have in meditation and was wondering whether you just acknowledge is as a stray thought (I am thinking about blueberry muffins and I need to get back to meditation) or whether you acknowledge the content of the thought (blueberry muffins are indeed tasty, I will make some later, but I need to get back to meditation). It seems like petty semantics when I type it out but I was just curious.

Typing acknowledgment over and over makes the word look funny.

Comments

  • RichardHRichardH Veteran
    edited August 2010
    Hi sandy, that is a good point. The object of mind is thoughts-as-such rather than their content. Thoughts will think.
  • IronRabbitIronRabbit Veteran
    edited August 2010
    Who'd have thunk.....
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited August 2010
    Pema Chodron says that you should not repress thoughts. Like OH NO thoughts.... get back to meditation.

    What you do is to see the illusory quality of thought and relax. So if you really want a muffin you notice the pull quality of that and even with something as simple as a blueberry muffin it is hard to see that we don't have to get up from meditation and eat one! You just try your best to see the desire for a muffin as desire and keep sitting. But you don't want to repress yourself from thinking about muffins.

    Part of the discipline of meditation is to get lost in thoughts. Otherwise you would never learn to come back and apply a light but firm touch on your method. Oh thinking! (but not a repression).
  • RichardHRichardH Veteran
    edited August 2010
    Over the long term it has been the relationship with thought that has defined meditation. The whole wheel of becoming is thought born. At first there was the usual attempt at not thinking, then attempts at letting thought be, and so forth. It never really resolved as intended but through sheer persistence, sitting with the uncertainty of the situation, the relationship with thought transformed and is still transforming. It basically comes down to experiencing thought as a simple sensory occasion while simultaneously knowing its symbolic content. "No mind" is the background that remains regardless of the flux and flow of thinking. I don't think there is a neat way to go about this, just lots of sitting and retreats.
  • sandysandy Explorer
    edited August 2010
    Thank you all for your responses, you've, erm, given me a lot to think about ;) I'm going to digest these posts for a few days and get back to you all if any more questions arise.

    Virtual blueberry muffins for all!
  • nanadhajananadhaja Veteran
    edited August 2010
    I would merely acknowledge the thought then let it go and bring my mind gently back to the rising and falling of the abdomin.If I tried meditatating on the muffin,seeing the blue berries etc,I would probably find myself moving my meditation practise to starbucks.Then at least I could meditate on the muffin I was eating.:lol:
  • mugzymugzy Veteran
    edited August 2010
    When thoughts arise during my meditation I simply say "Thoughts, thinking, back to breath." As Jeffrey said it's not about repressing the thought process, but learning to be more mindful. With practice it becomes easier to remain in meditative concentration and thoughts will be much less of a distraction.
  • jspacemanjspaceman
    edited September 2010
    There are many metaphors for dealing with thoughts - imagining them as leaves falling from a tree, floating off downstream, or as luggage on an airport carousel, you don't get on with them, but watch them go by. They will come back, but you can keep on letting them pass. A favourite of mine is to imagine them written in the sand at the beach and then watch as the sea comes in and washes them away. You can keep writing in the sand, but make sure to allow the sea to wash them away. Try not to judge yourself having thoughts - we all think! Don't judge your judging!
  • ChrysalidChrysalid Veteran
    edited September 2010
    mugzy wrote: »
    When thoughts arise during my meditation I simply say "Thoughts, thinking, back to breath." As Jeffrey said it's not about repressing the thought process, but learning to be more mindful. With practice it becomes easier to remain in meditative concentration and thoughts will be much less of a distraction.
    That's pretty much what I do. I'm sitting there believing I'm in meditation, then suddenly I realise I've been thinking about wombats for the past 30 seconds, soon as I realise I've lost focus the thought just sort of dissolves on its own.
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited September 2010
    mugzy wrote: »
    When thoughts arise during my meditation I simply say "Thoughts, thinking, back to breath."

    Seconded. The less the better.
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