Guest guest Posted July 26, 2001 Report Share Posted July 26, 2001 Hi Leaf, Most people find it easy to do for a few seconds, but it's hard to keep it up. That's the challenge. How to do it? Hmm.... it's hard to put these things into words. Well, let's try this: If I ask you, "What are you thinking right now?", do you sort of refocus your mental attention to see what you're thinking? At that split instant when you refocus and look at what you're thinking, you're watching your mind. Before that instant, your mind was probably running along automatically, like it usually does, and you were sort of caught up in it. At the moment when you look at it, you're not caught up in it anymore. In a sense, in the usual state of mind, you're "lost." At the moment you start watching, you "find yourself." If this explanation doesn't click with you, ask again and I'll try explaining some other way. Regards, Rob - Joe0464 Realization Thursday, July 26, 2001 9:39 AM (no subject) Hello, I have a question to ask. My question is, well, I read an article on watching the mind, and I would like to know how to watch the mind. It sounded sort of easy, but I don't get how to do that. Please help me. Blessed be Leaf ..........INFORMATION ABOUT THIS LIST..........Email addresses: Post message: Realization Un: Realization- Our web address: http://www.realization.orgBy sending a message to this list, you are givingpermission to have it reproduced as a letter onhttp://www.realization.org................................................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2001 Report Share Posted July 26, 2001 Hi Rob: Seems to me that asking the mind to watch the mind is like asking the eye to see the eye....quite impossible. Yet, there is a witness to the mind/body which looks on without comparing and judging and classifying. What is this? Peace, Michael At 12:15 PM 7/26/2001, you wrote: Hi Leaf, Most people find it easy to do for a few seconds, but it's hard to keep it up. That's the challenge. How to do it? Hmm.... it's hard to put these things into words. Well, let's try this: If I ask you, " What are you thinking right now? " , do you sort of refocus your mental attention to see what you're thinking? At that split instant when you refocus and look at what you're thinking, you're watching your mind. Before that instant, your mind was probably running along automatically, like it usually does, and you were sort of caught up in it. At the moment when you look at it, you're not caught up in it anymore. In a sense, in the usual state of mind, you're " lost. " At the moment you start watching, you " find yourself. " If this explanation doesn't click with you, ask again and I'll try explaining some other way. Regards, Rob - Joe0464 To: Realization Thursday, July 26, 2001 9:39 AM (no subject) Hello, I have a question to ask. My question is, well, I read an article on watching the mind, and I would like to know how to watch the mind. It sounded sort of easy, but I don't get how to do that. Please help me. Blessed be Leaf ...........INFORMATION ABOUT THIS LIST.......... Email addresses: Post message: Realization Un: Realization- Our web address: http://www.realization.org By sending a message to this list, you are giving permission to have it reproduced as a letter on http://www.realization.org ................................................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2001 Report Share Posted July 26, 2001 Hi Michael, Did anybody say here that the mind should watch the mind? I don't think so! My experience has been that as more watching takes place, the sense of self settles more deeply and the mind recedes. One day the mind recedes so far that "you" discover that "you" are not the mind. That day is the first day you begin to know what mind is because it's the first time you see mind from outside. Until that day, you were only dividing mind into two halves, and calling one "mind" and the other "witness" or "me." So what good does it do to think about these things? It doesn't help you see. Maybe, at best, it gives you an idea how to look, or a motivation for looking. Leaf asked how to get the experience. Will definitions and conundrums help her do this? Regards, Rob - Michael D. Johnson Realization Thursday, July 26, 2001 2:18 PM Re: Watching the Mind Hi Rob:Seems to me that asking the mindto watch the mind is like asking theeye to see the eye....quite impossible.Yet, there is a witness to the mind/bodywhich looks on without comparing and judging and classifying.What is this?Peace,MichaelAt 12:15 PM 7/26/2001, you wrote: Hi Leaf, Most people find it easy to do for a few seconds,but it's hard to keep it up. That's the challenge. How to do it? Hmm.... it's hard to put these thingsinto words. Well, let's try this: If I ask you, "What are you thinking right now?",do you sort of refocus your mental attention tosee what you're thinking? At that split instant when you refocus and look atwhat you're thinking, you're watching your mind. Before that instant, your mind was probably runningalong automatically, like it usually does, and youwere sort of caught up in it. At the moment whenyou look at it, you're not caught up in it anymore. In a sense, in the usual state of mind, you're "lost."At the moment you start watching, you "find yourself." If this explanation doesn't click with you, ask again and I'll try explaining some other way. Regards, Rob - Joe0464 Realization Thursday, July 26, 2001 9:39 AM (no subject) Hello, I have a question to ask. My question is, well, I read an article on watching the mind, and I would like to know how to watch the mind. It sounded sort of easy, but I don't get how to do that. Please help me. Blessed be Leaf ...........INFORMATION ABOUT THIS LIST.......... Email addresses: Post message: Realization Un: Realization- Our web address: http://www.realization.org By sending a message to this list, you are giving permission to have it reproduced as a letter on http://www.realization.org ................................................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2001 Report Share Posted July 26, 2001 Rob, It's important to focus on what your goal is. It's to have the mind totally dissolved in the heart and only the Light of the Self shining. You focus should be on the heart, the silence and joy lie there. If you start each breath from the center of your heart on the right side, as as often as possible let a mantra ride on the breath. The Light of the Self shines into your heart then up and out through the mind and senses. Sherm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2001 Report Share Posted July 27, 2001 Hi Rob: Thanks for this. Your kind words have grounded me and pointed out the twisted way in which the mind can take a few words and twist their meaning to suit it's own purpose. Have you ever had your mind turn on you? I have many times. It hurts like hell. Peace, Michael Realization, " Rob Sacks " <editor@r...> wrote: > Hi Michael, > > Did anybody say here that the mind should > watch the mind? I don't think so! > > My experience has been that as more > watching takes place, the sense of self > settles more deeply and the mind > recedes. > > One day the mind recedes so far that " you " > discover that " you " are not the mind. That day > is the first day you begin to know what mind is > because it's the first time you see mind from > outside. Until that day, you were only dividing > mind into two halves, and calling one " mind " > and the other " witness " or " me. " > > So what good does it do to think about these > things? It doesn't help you see. Maybe, at > best, it gives you an idea how to look, or a > motivation for looking. > > Leaf asked how to get the experience. > Will definitions and conundrums help her do > this? > > Regards, > > Rob > - > Michael D. Johnson > Realization > Thursday, July 26, 2001 2:18 PM > Re: Watching the Mind > > > Hi Rob: > > Seems to me that asking the mind > to watch the mind is like asking the > eye to see the eye....quite impossible. > > Yet, there is a witness to the mind/body > which looks on without comparing and > judging and classifying. > > What is this? > > Peace, > > Michael > > At 12:15 PM 7/26/2001, you wrote: > > Hi Leaf, > > Most people find it easy to do for a few seconds, > but it's hard to keep it up. That's the challenge. > > How to do it? Hmm.... it's hard to put these things > into words. Well, let's try this: > > If I ask you, " What are you thinking right now? " , > do you sort of refocus your mental attention to > see what you're thinking? > > At that split instant when you refocus and look at > what you're thinking, you're watching your mind. > > Before that instant, your mind was probably running > along automatically, like it usually does, and you > were sort of caught up in it. At the moment when > you look at it, you're not caught up in it anymore. > > In a sense, in the usual state of mind, you're " lost. " > At the moment you start watching, you " find > yourself. " > > If this explanation doesn't click with you, > ask again and I'll try explaining some other way. > > Regards, > > Rob > > > - > Joe0464@a... > Realization > Thursday, July 26, 2001 9:39 AM > (no subject) > > > Hello, > I have a question to ask. My question is, well, I read an article on > watching the mind, and I would like to know how to watch the mind. It > sounded sort of easy, but I don't get how to do that. Please help me. > > > Blessed be > Leaf > > > ..........INFORMATION ABOUT THIS LIST.......... > > > Email addresses: > Post message: Realization > Un: Realization- > Our web address: http://www.realization.org > > > By sending a message to this list, you are giving > permission to have it reproduced as a letter on > http://www.realization.org > ................................................ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2001 Report Share Posted July 27, 2001 Hi Michael, You are very kind yourself! My own reaction to what I wrote yesterday is, " Man, what a bunch of pompous pontificating! " One of those e-mails where I wish I had waited a few minutes and reread it before sending it. > Have you ever had your mind turn on you? > ...hurts like hell! You kidding? The damn thing is a grade A sadist and it has a black belt! Regards, Rob - <michael <Realization > Friday, July 27, 2001 6:33 AM Re: Watching the Mind > Hi Rob: > > Thanks for this. > > Your kind words have grounded me > and pointed out the twisted way in > which the mind can take a few words > and twist their meaning to suit it's > own purpose. > > Have you ever had your mind turn on you? > > I have many times. > > It hurts like hell. > > Peace, > > Michael > > Realization, " Rob Sacks " <editor@r...> wrote: > > Hi Michael, > > > > Did anybody say here that the mind should > > watch the mind? I don't think so! > > > > My experience has been that as more > > watching takes place, the sense of self > > settles more deeply and the mind > > recedes. > > > > One day the mind recedes so far that " you " > > discover that " you " are not the mind. That day > > is the first day you begin to know what mind is > > because it's the first time you see mind from > > outside. Until that day, you were only dividing > > mind into two halves, and calling one " mind " > > and the other " witness " or " me. " > > > > So what good does it do to think about these > > things? It doesn't help you see. Maybe, at > > best, it gives you an idea how to look, or a > > motivation for looking. > > > > Leaf asked how to get the experience. > > Will definitions and conundrums help her do > > this? > > > > Regards, > > > > Rob > > - > > Michael D. Johnson > > Realization > > Thursday, July 26, 2001 2:18 PM > > Re: Watching the Mind > > > > > > Hi Rob: > > > > Seems to me that asking the mind > > to watch the mind is like asking the > > eye to see the eye....quite impossible. > > > > Yet, there is a witness to the mind/body > > which looks on without comparing and > > judging and classifying. > > > > What is this? > > > > Peace, > > > > Michael > > > > At 12:15 PM 7/26/2001, you wrote: > > > > Hi Leaf, > > > > Most people find it easy to do for a few seconds, > > but it's hard to keep it up. That's the challenge. > > > > How to do it? Hmm.... it's hard to put these things > > into words. Well, let's try this: > > > > If I ask you, " What are you thinking right now? " , > > do you sort of refocus your mental attention to > > see what you're thinking? > > > > At that split instant when you refocus and look at > > what you're thinking, you're watching your mind. > > > > Before that instant, your mind was probably running > > along automatically, like it usually does, and you > > were sort of caught up in it. At the moment when > > you look at it, you're not caught up in it anymore. > > > > In a sense, in the usual state of mind, you're " lost. " > > At the moment you start watching, you " find > > yourself. " > > > > If this explanation doesn't click with you, > > ask again and I'll try explaining some other way. > > > > Regards, > > > > Rob > > > > > > - > > Joe0464@a... > > Realization > > Thursday, July 26, 2001 9:39 AM > > (no subject) > > > > > > Hello, > > I have a question to ask. My question is, well, I read an > article on > > watching the mind, and I would like to know how to watch the > mind. It > > sounded sort of easy, but I don't get how to do that. Please > help me. > > > > > > Blessed be > > Leaf > > > > > > ..........INFORMATION ABOUT THIS LIST.......... > > > > > > Email addresses: > > Post message: Realization > > Un: Realization- > > Our web address: http://www.realization.org > > > > > > By sending a message to this list, you are giving > > permission to have it reproduced as a letter on > > http://www.realization.org > > ................................................ > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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