Keeping Presence

[straysweeper]

Today I was reading The Power of Less, and it had a profound impact on my ability to stay present for several hours. I've noticed similar impacts from listening to Wayne Dyer, and Eckhart Tolle, or from strong emotions like anger, or after a release of emotions of deep crying.

After a while of achieving this, I noticed the old 'clouded' feeling coming back. I have often wondered if it is connected with my diet as much as my thoughts, while I've been making attempts in that area, it doesn't seem to be much, and this feels more like social/situational/personal standard pressures.

I am not sure what facilitated this, but after today I want to live there. I far to often realize I'm in some sort of mental conversations, pictures, or questions in my head, analyzing things over and over again. Often thinking about what I'm doing rather than simply doing.

[Cochonette]

Do you meditate?

Every time we are greatly influenced by something, it will show its impermanence by wearing off when the influence is gone. So we must find a way to maintain that influence. Regular meditation is the key to maintaining Buddhist influences, for me... as well as periodically reading about it. I meditate every day for at least 20 minutes. Before I had the discipline to do that, I meditated with a campus meditation group at least twice a week, guiding a Buddhist meditation session... While the effects of staying six days at the monastery largely wore off, I did learn various meditations and deepen my understanding of meditation to the point where I knew I had to maintain it. Those meditation sessions served as a continual anchor, continual renewal for me. The semester would've been harder to get through without them. I needed the stability. And also, if I hadn't kept up with it, I would have a harder time getting back into it.

[Rhythman]

The more you stay in presence, the easier it is to reach and maintain that state. It is very simple. It's just like learning a skill such as a musical instrument. As you practice, your mind/body "reconfigures" itself to be able to perform the activity. Eventually, the activity will become effortless.

Rhythman

[Cochonette]

Originally Posted by Rhythman

The more you stay in presence, the easier it is to reach and maintain that state. It is very simple. It's just like learning a skill such as a musical instrument. As you practice, your mind/body "reconfigures" itself to be able to perform the activity. Eventually, the activity will become effortless.

Rhythman

Good point! I wish I had spent middle school and high school meditating instead of learning the saxophone! I don't play sax anymore, and it's just in no way applicable to my life today.

[young]

Be in emptiness. Keep your mind empty. Be aware of emptiness.