Unsubscribing from the group ..question related to sadhana

[Guest guest]

Namaste Sri Ramchandran-ji,

>

> During the past several days we have posting from three members

who

> want to explain why they " from this list."

Interestingly

> all of them made the observation that the discussions in this list

> did not meet their "expectations."

 

As you rightly said, we do not want to dwell on the reasons and need

to continue with 'our' job. Having said that , I do beleive topics

that help with day to day life will be relevant and beneficial to

our members.

 

The question

recently posed on 'handling mental agitations and the like' is an

excellent example of this.

 

ProfVKji eleqouently described in his response what I was struggling

to convey :-) I have seen the benefits of 'living in the

present' and am familiar with material that deals with the subject.

 

Basically, the subject can be broken down into 2 parts:

(1) Learning to live in the present - Books by Dr. Wayne Dyer,

Eckart

Toole, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and the whole subject of 'Mindfulness'

deal

with this. All these describe ways of effectively managing the mind

in

stressful situations.

(2) Spiritual disciplines that let you habitually live in the

present

without having to consciously 'manage' on a on-going basis. more

about

this latter.

 

Here is an example of (1). will try and post more on the subject

when time permits..

 

Learning how to be present

 

 

Being present requires that we become truly aware. We must not only

notice the things going on at this very moment in our lives, we must

learn to relish them – to use the power of the present moment. How

do

we become aware?

 

 

Tolle says if you realize you are not present – then you become

present. Simply acknowledging that we are not present brings us

fully

into the present moment. Things begin to get clearer – sounds are

sharper, colors are bolder. We may only stay in this moment for a

few

seconds, but with practice we can begin to be present for longer and

longer periods of time. Being present is never easy. We so easily

get

carried away in the things going on around us. We forget to notice

the

present because we're thinking about what we did yesterday or 20

years

ago and what we're going to be doing in five minutes or 20 years

from

now. Being present means we let go of those concerns and focus on

what

is happening now.

 

 

Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hahn suggests that we pay attention

to "bells

of mindfulness" that can bring us back to the present moment

throughout our hectic days. When we pay attention to the "bell of

mindfulness" calling us back to the present moment, Hahn says even

things like driving can be spiritual practice.

 

 

"… every time we see a red light, we are not very happy. The red

light

is a kind of enemy that prevents us from attaining our goal. But we

can also see the red light as a bell of mindfulness, reminding us to

return to the present moment."

 

So, the next time you're stuck at a red light, Hahn recommends that

you remain calm, pay attention to your breathing and smile while

thinking or even saying aloud: "Breathing in, I calm my body.

Breathing out, I smile."

 

 

In this way our irritation, which heralds our unconscious state,

gives

way to the joy of the present moment where we are alive, blessed and

loved. The red light then "becomes a friend, helping us remember it

is

only in the present moment that we can live our lives."

Recently, I had a chance to try out this "bell of mindfulness"

exercise when cars in the parking deck at my work began to stack up

because the gate would not lift. No amount of waving pass cards or

putting in codes would make the gate go up. One man was trying

valiantly to figure out the problem and finally had to trudge into

the

building several times before someone came out to lift the gate and

free us.

 

 

This was a prime opportunity to become irritated – this gate was

preventing me from attaining my goal of going home! Instead, I

considered the stuck gate as a "bell of mindfulness." I looked

around

and appreciated the moment. I talked with other stuck motorists –

smiled at them and made light of the situation. No one became

agitated

or angry. We all waited patiently to be let out. It was a prime

moment

when our collective irritation at being delayed could have resulted

in

an ugly confrontation between ourselves and the man who finally let

us

out. Instead, just one person smiling and making light of an

irritating situation was enough to defuse any pending anger.

 

 

This is the power of being present. When we truly are living in the

present moment there is not need for anger, irritation or

unhappiness.

The present moment does not know such emotions or problems – it only

knows the joy and ease of being fully alive. Tolle suggests that we

ask ourselves, in each moment: "Is there joy, ease and lightness in

what I'm doing?"

As soon as we honor the present moment, he says, "all unhappiness

and

struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease. When

you

act out of present-moment awareness, whatever you do becomes imbued

with a sense of quality, care and love – even the most simple

action."

 

 

Overcoming our disbelief

 

 

When I first read Tolle's book, I was incredulous at his assertion

that "all unhappiness and struggle dissolve" in the present moment.

I've had some pretty terrible moments in my life -- some incredibly

unhappy ones -- and to make such a statement seemed to me to be

absurd.

 

 

What about those moments in my life where I've just learned I don't

have enough money to pay the bills? What about those moments in my

life when I realize I hate my job but feel powerless to leave it?

What

about those moments in my life where I've learned my cat has

terminal

cancer and would be better off dead? What about those moments when

my

partner and I are angry with one another and are considering life

without each other? These are all present moments and they seem

pretty

much spilling over with unhappiness and struggle. I figured Tolle

must

live in some fairy tale land where all the witches are good witches

and everyone lives happily ever after. He couldn't be talking about

real life -- not an authentic real life, anyway -- one where

unhappiness and struggle are the rule and never the exception. I

tossed the book aside thinking the guy must be at best insane or at

worst completely in denial about the stuff that makes up everyday

life.

 

 

I realized Tolle was right though when I began reading Wayne Dyer's

book "There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem." Dyer, too,

insists that the present moment is a moment where there is peace,

happiness and no struggle. His "bell of mindfulness" to call us back

to the present moment when life becomes overwhelming is the

phrase, "I

can choose peace, rather than this." He recommends using this

phrase "when you find yourself experiencing anguish, fear,

depression,

turmoil, even anger."

 

 

Again, though, the phrase smacked of denial of our basic emotions.

If

we're in anguish, fear, depression, turmoil or anger, aren't we just

turning off our emotions and giving in to a denial that resembles

happiness? Dyer addresses this problem better than Tolle does. He

fully admits that his technique "will not immediately mend a broken

leg, or undo an accident, or rid your house of termites, but you

will

have proven to yourself in that magical moment that you do have the

power to choose peace."

 

 

And so it is true. We can choose to live in a present moment of

peace,

or we can choose to be ruled by our emotions of anguish, fear,

depression, turmoil and anger. Driving is always the challenge for

me,

and serves as my best "bell of mindfulness" to return to the present

moment of peace. Recently, another driver refused to let me over to

pass a slow car in front of me, instead remaining beside me –

slowing

us all down. When they finally sped up and allowed me to pass, I was

livid and followed close behind them honking my horn and hailing

them

with the international sign of friendship. My "bell of mindfulness"

rang loudly. I said to myself, "I can choose peace, rather than

this."

But, in that moment, I didn't want peace. I wanted to be angry. I

wanted to be outraged. I wanted the other person to know of my anger

and outrage. I made my choice. I chose anger and outrage over peace.

 

 

This is a choice we make every single day. We choose to be depressed

instead of happy. We choose to be angry instead of calm. We choose

to

be lonely instead of content with ourselves. This is when it dawned

on

me that Tolle and Dyer are onto something. We choose how we will

think

and feel. Often we choose wrongly – taking the emotions of anger,

fear

and anguish over such emotions as peace and happiness. We keep

saying

we want peace and happiness, but we keep choosing anger and fear.

Choosing peace and happiness is not a denial of our anger or fear –

it

is the transformation of those emotions!

Dyer says when we choose to "bring that peaceful thought to bear on

the presence of whatever problem you were experiencing, you will

discover an even greater truth. Your problems, all of them, can only

be experienced in your mind, and when you bring peace to your mind,

you put yourself in a mode of taking whatever action is

appropriate."

 

 

So, choosing peace in any situation is not a denial of the

situation,

or inaction in the face of reality. It is a transformation of our

emotions – a conscious choice that puts us in the middle of the

present moment where we can take appropriate action to deal with any

situation that comes along. This is the true power of the present

moment!

 

http://www.whosoever.org/v7i5/present.shtml

[Guest guest]

Namaste Sri Ramchandran-ji,

>

> During the past several days we have posting from three members

who

> want to explain why they " from this list."

Interestingly

> all of them made the observation that the discussions in this list

> did not meet their "expectations."

 

As you rightly said, we do not want to dwell on the reasons and need

to continue with 'our' job. Having said that , I do beleive topics

that help with day to day life will be relevant and beneficial to

our members.

 

The question

recently posed on 'handling mental agitations and the like' is an

excellent example of this.

 

ProfVKji eleqouently described in his response what I was struggling

to convey :-) I have seen the benefits of 'living in the

present' and am familiar with material that deals with the subject.

 

Basically, the subject can be broken down into 2 parts:

(1) Learning to live in the present - Books by Dr. Wayne Dyer,

Eckart

Toole, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and the whole subject of 'Mindfulness'

deal

with this. All these describe ways of effectively managing the mind

in

stressful situations.

(2) Spiritual disciplines that let you habitually live in the

present

without having to consciously 'manage' on a on-going basis. more

about

this latter.

 

Here is an example of (1). will try and post more on the subject

when time permits..

 

Learning how to be present

 

 

Being present requires that we become truly aware. We must not only

notice the things going on at this very moment in our lives, we must

learn to relish them – to use the power of the present moment. How

do

we become aware?

 

 

Tolle says if you realize you are not present – then you become

present. Simply acknowledging that we are not present brings us

fully

into the present moment. Things begin to get clearer – sounds are

sharper, colors are bolder. We may only stay in this moment for a

few

seconds, but with practice we can begin to be present for longer and

longer periods of time. Being present is never easy. We so easily

get

carried away in the things going on around us. We forget to notice

the

present because we're thinking about what we did yesterday or 20

years

ago and what we're going to be doing in five minutes or 20 years

from

now. Being present means we let go of those concerns and focus on

what

is happening now.

 

 

Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hahn suggests that we pay attention

to "bells

of mindfulness" that can bring us back to the present moment

throughout our hectic days. When we pay attention to the "bell of

mindfulness" calling us back to the present moment, Hahn says even

things like driving can be spiritual practice.

 

 

"… every time we see a red light, we are not very happy. The red

light

is a kind of enemy that prevents us from attaining our goal. But we

can also see the red light as a bell of mindfulness, reminding us to

return to the present moment."

 

So, the next time you're stuck at a red light, Hahn recommends that

you remain calm, pay attention to your breathing and smile while

thinking or even saying aloud: "Breathing in, I calm my body.

Breathing out, I smile."

 

 

In this way our irritation, which heralds our unconscious state,

gives

way to the joy of the present moment where we are alive, blessed and

loved. The red light then "becomes a friend, helping us remember it

is

only in the present moment that we can live our lives."

Recently, I had a chance to try out this "bell of mindfulness"

exercise when cars in the parking deck at my work began to stack up

because the gate would not lift. No amount of waving pass cards or

putting in codes would make the gate go up. One man was trying

valiantly to figure out the problem and finally had to trudge into

the

building several times before someone came out to lift the gate and

free us.

 

 

This was a prime opportunity to become irritated – this gate was

preventing me from attaining my goal of going home! Instead, I

considered the stuck gate as a "bell of mindfulness." I looked

around

and appreciated the moment. I talked with other stuck motorists –

smiled at them and made light of the situation. No one became

agitated

or angry. We all waited patiently to be let out. It was a prime

moment

when our collective irritation at being delayed could have resulted

in

an ugly confrontation between ourselves and the man who finally let

us

out. Instead, just one person smiling and making light of an

irritating situation was enough to defuse any pending anger.

 

 

This is the power of being present. When we truly are living in the

present moment there is not need for anger, irritation or

unhappiness.

The present moment does not know such emotions or problems – it only

knows the joy and ease of being fully alive. Tolle suggests that we

ask ourselves, in each moment: "Is there joy, ease and lightness in

what I'm doing?"

As soon as we honor the present moment, he says, "all unhappiness

and

struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease. When

you

act out of present-moment awareness, whatever you do becomes imbued

with a sense of quality, care and love – even the most simple

action."

 

 

Overcoming our disbelief

 

 

When I first read Tolle's book, I was incredulous at his assertion

that "all unhappiness and struggle dissolve" in the present moment.

I've had some pretty terrible moments in my life -- some incredibly

unhappy ones -- and to make such a statement seemed to me to be

absurd.

 

 

What about those moments in my life where I've just learned I don't

have enough money to pay the bills? What about those moments in my

life when I realize I hate my job but feel powerless to leave it?

What

about those moments in my life where I've learned my cat has

terminal

cancer and would be better off dead? What about those moments when

my

partner and I are angry with one another and are considering life

without each other? These are all present moments and they seem

pretty

much spilling over with unhappiness and struggle. I figured Tolle

must

live in some fairy tale land where all the witches are good witches

and everyone lives happily ever after. He couldn't be talking about

real life -- not an authentic real life, anyway -- one where

unhappiness and struggle are the rule and never the exception. I

tossed the book aside thinking the guy must be at best insane or at

worst completely in denial about the stuff that makes up everyday

life.

 

 

I realized Tolle was right though when I began reading Wayne Dyer's

book "There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem." Dyer, too,

insists that the present moment is a moment where there is peace,

happiness and no struggle. His "bell of mindfulness" to call us back

to the present moment when life becomes overwhelming is the

phrase, "I

can choose peace, rather than this." He recommends using this

phrase "when you find yourself experiencing anguish, fear,

depression,

turmoil, even anger."

 

 

Again, though, the phrase smacked of denial of our basic emotions.

If

we're in anguish, fear, depression, turmoil or anger, aren't we just

turning off our emotions and giving in to a denial that resembles

happiness? Dyer addresses this problem better than Tolle does. He

fully admits that his technique "will not immediately mend a broken

leg, or undo an accident, or rid your house of termites, but you

will

have proven to yourself in that magical moment that you do have the

power to choose peace."

 

 

And so it is true. We can choose to live in a present moment of

peace,

or we can choose to be ruled by our emotions of anguish, fear,

depression, turmoil and anger. Driving is always the challenge for

me,

and serves as my best "bell of mindfulness" to return to the present

moment of peace. Recently, another driver refused to let me over to

pass a slow car in front of me, instead remaining beside me –

slowing

us all down. When they finally sped up and allowed me to pass, I was

livid and followed close behind them honking my horn and hailing

them

with the international sign of friendship. My "bell of mindfulness"

rang loudly. I said to myself, "I can choose peace, rather than

this."

But, in that moment, I didn't want peace. I wanted to be angry. I

wanted to be outraged. I wanted the other person to know of my anger

and outrage. I made my choice. I chose anger and outrage over peace.

 

 

This is a choice we make every single day. We choose to be depressed

instead of happy. We choose to be angry instead of calm. We choose

to

be lonely instead of content with ourselves. This is when it dawned

on

me that Tolle and Dyer are onto something. We choose how we will

think

and feel. Often we choose wrongly – taking the emotions of anger,

fear

and anguish over such emotions as peace and happiness. We keep

saying

we want peace and happiness, but we keep choosing anger and fear.

Choosing peace and happiness is not a denial of our anger or fear –

it

is the transformation of those emotions!

Dyer says when we choose to "bring that peaceful thought to bear on

the presence of whatever problem you were experiencing, you will

discover an even greater truth. Your problems, all of them, can only

be experienced in your mind, and when you bring peace to your mind,

you put yourself in a mode of taking whatever action is

appropriate."

 

 

So, choosing peace in any situation is not a denial of the

situation,

or inaction in the face of reality. It is a transformation of our

emotions – a conscious choice that puts us in the middle of the

present moment where we can take appropriate action to deal with any

situation that comes along. This is the true power of the present

moment!

 

http://www.whosoever.org/v7i5/present.shtml