Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Register
Examples: Monday, today, last week, Mar 26, 3/26/04
Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.

The Present Moment & Balancing the Left and Right Brain

revolutionary14revolutionary14
edited February 2011 in Buddhism Basics
I did some ecstasy last weekend (yes I know this goes against buddhist teachings and i thought it out before hand) that i am pretty sure had some hallucinogenic qualities to it. It helped me to realize that the present moment is all that exists. Once I came down I kept practicing being present, so that I could get back to that state of mind of enjoying the moment. I can get into a very present state now, where my left brain is very active and it is great for meditating. However, I have a disorder called OCD, which deals with chronic intrusive thoughts, and needing everything to be neat, tidy, and resolved. (very counter-buddhist i know :P) and when I go out into the world of conventional thinking, I keep having intrusive thoughts about the true nature of reality, and it makes it hard to think straight. I think it is very, very important to keep a balance between right and left brain, and this is freaking me out because I am having trouble making conversation with people, appreciating music/looking at art. Because my right brain is so active.
Usually I just tell myself that the worrying will go away in a few days, cause it usually does, but I can't think that when the only moment that exists is now.

What is a good way to keep a balance between thinking in a conventional way and an ultimate way?

I can still function, no one is noticing much different with me, other than it is just making me slower with 'artsy' things, and very depressed.

Comments

  • ownerof1000oddsocksownerof1000oddsocks Veteran
    Perhaps you're just experiencing the after effects of the tablet or cap you took. If the brain is nicely balanced then any foreign substance is bound to upset that. Slowness, depression, anxiety? Yes drugs can alter how you feel and think- simple enough.

    At the very least you're unaccustomed to taking pills and having a downer, but if it is something worse then I would urge you to seek a professional in these matters if it's interfering with important things like your social life.
  • revolutionary14revolutionary14
    edited February 2011
    Yea, I'm sure thats part of it. I am having some come-down depression.
    But I have had this same kind of anxiety over existential questions before, and it wasn't because of drugs.
    And yea, I am getting professional help for OCD and other anxiety problems.
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    I am having trouble making conversation with people, appreciating music/looking at art. Because my right brain is so active.
    How do you know this is the source of the problem? There are other things that could be going on.
  • revolutionary14revolutionary14
    edited February 2011
    That's just the assumption I decided to make, because the left brain is the one associated with art and creativity.
    I could have said yin and yang instead I guess. Good point.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    Actually, it's the other way around. The Right hemisphere is associated with creativity and expression. The left hemisphere is associated with logic, reason and mathematical calculation.

    http://www.funderstanding.com/content/right-brain-vs-left-brain

    back to the drawing board......:rolleyes:
    I'd stay off the drugs if I were you.
    Don't seem to be helping as much as hindering, do they? :screwy:
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    That's just the assumption I decided to make, because the left brain is the one associated with art and creativity.
    I could have said yin and yang instead I guess. Good point.
    It's not just the simple matter of which metaphor to use- your supposed difficulty interacting with people and responding to art may be things you would want to bring up to your therapist as well, if you haven't already.

    I wish you all the best.

  • kommkomm
    try to practice sitting meditation at least 10 minutes a day three or four times a day.
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    try to practice sitting meditation at least 10 minutes a day three or four times a day.</block
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    I had a glitch in my message above. I was just going to say that maybe the recommendation as to whether or how much to practice sitting meditation might be something the OP would want to discuss with his/her therapist. Sitting meditation is not always indicated for people with certain issues.
Sign In or Register to comment.