Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina  Tolle is totally off base in that respect. You can stop the thinking mind and experience a deeper sense of peace if you'd like, but trying to make that state into the central focus of your life ultimately misses the point of human existence.
You don't need to mentally check out from life to be at peace. I think SR is a more reasonable and intelligent approach that trying to turn off all thought. The thinking mind isn't some kind of cosmic mistake. It doesn't exist just so you can turn it off.
SR embraces the thinking mind. It says that thought is important. Instead of turning away from thought, SR tells you to turn towards it and dive into it ever more deeply.
There's no need to fear the thinking mind. It isn't your enemy. Turning it off doesn't lead to enlightenment... merely thoughtlessness. That concept of enlightenment is a total dead end. It sells lots of book though. People love solutions that don't require them to think.
Summon the courage to explore and embrace your thoughts instead of running from them. They don't bite... usually.  |
Who is SR?
Steve is totally right, we shouldn't fear the thinking mind. We should laugh at it. It tells funny jokes, it can create wonderful things. To some of us, who have a poorly conditioned mind, sometimes when we sink below a certain level of awareness we experience negatively-energized thoughts. And it's important to not give negatively-energized resistance because that would only feed itself.
Tao-Te-Ching, 60
Quote:
Give evil nothing to oppose
and it will disappear by itself.
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Of course, once a high level of constant awareness is reached negative thoughts simply are not created anymore. I believe this is the level Steve is at, so he goes ahead and boasts of his new-found thinking skills. Well, I'll have you know Steve that it's not nice for us young 18 year olds to hear so much about how great your powers of thought are. We make ourselves feel inferior by comparing ourselves to you
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And it's indeed true some people don't want to think. I am one of them at times. There are times where I prefer to not use my mind and let it rest. It's nice to not use your mind ALL THE TIME and just let yourself go. Feeling your breath, feeling your inner body. Maybe you may call it laziness and thoughtlessness, but I call it "loveliness."
Of course, I want to learn how to use my mind more creatively - thus I am reading and practicing
Amazon.com: The Memory Book: The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory at Work, at School, and at Play: Harry Lorayne,Jerry Lucas: Books