In May I dealt with a lot of emotional issues and processes. Practicing Buddhadasa’s “Insight By The Nature Method” (via Richard) seems to gradually peel back not just layers of subtle, perceptual skin (ala Vipassana/Progress of Insight), but also many thoughts, emotions and behaviors. In getting accustomed to this, I questioned my views on the necessity of social connection and how that interfaces with having one’s own stash of Piti. There were also considerations of the limits (or lack thereof) of habit formation and discipline.
Also, when I told him about my feelings of dissociation whilst talking to others and practicing Anapana, Richard told me to stop all breath meditation (at those times), and focus entirely on listening. This helped clarify the Nature Method’s ruthlessly literal approach to solving life’s issues.
I understood how this method led to the awareness preview last month, and how it promises a continuous baseline eventually, by removing all the obstacles to clarity.
The twice daily, 60 minute sits on my zafu continued, and I struggled to watch the stillness of the body as deeper layers of agitation began to surface. The removal of distracting thoughts was a staple practice, and helped me deal with a dating situation that would previously have triggered uncontrolled obsessing. The importance of Right Lifestyle was highlighted as I started the transition from bartending/unpaid internship to bartending/professional job search. A regular sleep schedule could be seen as a cornerstone of the 8fold path.
In addition to crushing thoughts, I started to counter my pessimistic tendencies with more relaxed and zestful affirmative statements. This thought-based reprogramming would continue to be a valuable asset to me in coming months.
Also, when I told him about my feelings of dissociation whilst talking to others and practicing Anapana, Richard told me to stop all breath meditation (at those times), and focus entirely on listening. This helped clarify the Nature Method’s ruthlessly literal approach to solving life’s issues.
I understood how this method led to the awareness preview last month, and how it promises a continuous baseline eventually, by removing all the obstacles to clarity.
The twice daily, 60 minute sits on my zafu continued, and I struggled to watch the stillness of the body as deeper layers of agitation began to surface. The removal of distracting thoughts was a staple practice, and helped me deal with a dating situation that would previously have triggered uncontrolled obsessing. The importance of Right Lifestyle was highlighted as I started the transition from bartending/unpaid internship to bartending/professional job search. A regular sleep schedule could be seen as a cornerstone of the 8fold path.
In addition to crushing thoughts, I started to counter my pessimistic tendencies with more relaxed and zestful affirmative statements. This thought-based reprogramming would continue to be a valuable asset to me in coming months.
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