Comments on: This Old Self http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/ Making Meditation Work for You Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:29:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Steven Sashen http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Steven Sashen Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:10:25 +0000 http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/#comment-43 Hi Alessa, I love your answer! ;-) And, you know, I'm required by law to ask: Can you absolutely know you wouldn't be in the place you are today if you hadn't started your "improvement project"? ;-) (I'm currently enjoying the fantasy of how lovely it must be at your new home now!) Hi Alessa,

I love your answer! ;-)

And, you know, I’m required by law to ask:

Can you absolutely know you wouldn’t be in the place you are today if you hadn’t started your “improvement project”?

;-)

(I’m currently enjoying the fantasy of how lovely it must be at your new home now!)

]]> By: Alessa http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Alessa Tue, 12 Jun 2007 06:57:36 +0000 http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/#comment-42 I’m actually happy I started my “improvement project” about 1,5 years ago. It took me to the place where I’m today – and it’s a good place to be!!! What would my life be like if I couldn’t conceive of myself as an improvement project? Maybe I wouldn’t hang out here trying to impress you with clever answers…. :-) (Thinking I need something from you in order to be “fixed”.) Thanking you (and me). I’m actually happy I started my “improvement project” about 1,5 years ago. It took me to the place where I’m today – and it’s a good place to be!!! What would my life be like if I couldn’t conceive of myself as an improvement project? Maybe I wouldn’t hang out here trying to impress you with clever answers…. :-) (Thinking I need something from you in order to be “fixed”.) Thanking you (and me).

]]> By: David Stevens http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/comment-page-1/#comment-38 David Stevens Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:31:03 +0000 http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/#comment-38 To me, improving and accepting are two natural phases of life. I enjoy both, although I tend to think of improving more as playing or creating. My observation is that most people would enjoy more accepting. My first profound mystical experience came in high school when I read The Book On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are - for me it inspired a huge release of effort and an upwelling of acceptance of myself and everything. To me, improving and accepting are two natural phases of life. I enjoy both, although I tend to think
of improving more as playing or creating. My observation is that most people would enjoy more accepting.

My first profound mystical experience came in high school when I read The Book On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are – for me it inspired a huge release of effort and an upwelling of acceptance of myself and everything.

]]> By: Dave Bennett http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Dave Bennett Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:38:39 +0000 http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/#comment-34 Steven, Once I was able to accept who I am at this moment I was able to accept happiness into my life. I understand I have issues I have to work on and I still have problems. But I can work on them knowing I will improve myself as I go. This is a way of living for me and it make things easier. I no longer have to beat myself up when I fall down. Steven,
Once I was able to accept who I am at this moment I was able to accept happiness into my life. I understand I have issues I have to work on and I still have problems. But I can work on them knowing I will improve myself as I go. This is a way of living for me and it make things easier. I no longer have to beat myself up when I fall down.

]]> By: Charlotte http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Charlotte Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:27:39 +0000 http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/#comment-33 Thank you for the question, Steven. This is pretty much why I don't sit in meditation any more. And why often I find myself in meditation as I go about my day. I no longer think of meditation as something I need to sit to do. I am experiencing a shift towards reality--and for the first time, that shift includes me--as I am in this moment. God is everything, including me, now. Recently it began to click that none of this is personal, not my actions, not my thoughts, not my feelings, not any of it. I don't do, think, feel, inquire, or understand. And if that is true, then maybe that is what they mean when they say there is no I involved: how could there be if none of those thoughts, feelings, actions belong to anyone? Why knows and why improve? If whatever it is that expresses through this apparent existence wants to change in one way or the other, it will. If it wants to look improved, fine, and if sometimes it wants to have a little spell, that is becoming more OK too. I watch. And not even that. And it's all a game that someone is playing. And all of it is meditation. Charlotte Thank you for the question, Steven.
This is pretty much why I don’t sit in meditation any more. And why often I find myself in meditation as I go about my day. I no longer think of meditation as something I need to sit to do.
I am experiencing a shift towards reality–and for the first time, that shift includes me–as I am in this moment. God is everything, including me, now.
Recently it began to click that none of this is personal, not my actions, not my thoughts, not my feelings, not any of it. I don’t do, think, feel, inquire, or understand. And if that is true, then maybe that is what they mean when they say there is no I involved: how could there be if none of those thoughts, feelings, actions belong to anyone? Why knows and why improve? If whatever it is that expresses through this apparent existence wants to change in one way or the other, it will. If it wants to look improved, fine, and if sometimes it wants to have a little spell, that is becoming more OK too.
I watch. And not even that. And it’s all a game that someone is playing. And all of it is meditation.
Charlotte

]]> By: Charles Mazza http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Charles Mazza Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:44:16 +0000 http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/#comment-31 36. One Think At A Time I hope it's as obvious to you as it is to me that one cannot think two thoughts at the same time. We are playing in a linear universe and that's that. If you are thinking something nice you can't think of something not nice at the same time. If you think sad thoughts you can't think happy thoughts at the same time. I stayed overnight at a self-sufficient Benedictine monastery once. They were, and still are, Contemplatives who work very hard (selling high-class jellies and jams). Contemplatives don't speak, keep their communications to an absolute minimum and restrict even that to minimal gestures. They treasure their vow of silence but the Rule of St. Benedict mandates that the monks be hospitable to visitors and so one was assigned to speak with us. He showed us their well-groomed fields and immaculate kitchens and took us through their graveyard. He pointed to some roughed-up earth where, he said, a monk was buried. There was no stone. He said the dead monk was the greatly beloved former abbot. "Where's his marker?" and, "Don't you miss him?" jumped out of my mouth in the same sentence. Our tour guide (very) gently explained that the abbot's presence was felt profoundly every day but that they just hadn't gotten around to carving a stone. Now I was really curious and popped up with, "Who will carve the stone and who carved the coffin?" He said they had no stone-carver but a stone was coming from another monastery. He said there was no coffin as monks were just wrapped in a sheet and "returned to the earth" when they died. Later that evening (after a Spartan meal of bread and soup) our guide had a short Q and A with us. I tried to compliment him on his very austere life style but he would have none of it. He said, "I admire you with your family responsibilities and working 'in the world' every day." The good feeling that emanates from St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, MA is so palpable that you sense it just by driving by. I recommend that you make the effort and visit some time. There you will see, as I did, the rewards of keeping your mind occupied with good things and keeping your spirit focused on God. I'm not moralizing. This linear universe is just a technical fact. If you can only hold one thought at a time and that thought is correct then, for that moment, your life becomes correct, i.e., happy. If you keep stringing correct thoughts together then your life becomes happy for as long as you do it. Where's the down side to this situation? 36. One Think At A Time

I hope it’s as obvious to you as it is to me that one cannot think two thoughts at the same time. We are playing in a linear universe and that’s that. If you are thinking something nice you can’t think of something not nice at the same time. If you think sad thoughts you can’t think happy thoughts at the same time.

I stayed overnight at a self-sufficient Benedictine monastery once. They were, and still are, Contemplatives who work very hard (selling high-class jellies and jams). Contemplatives don’t speak, keep their communications to an absolute minimum and restrict even that to minimal gestures. They treasure their vow of silence but the Rule of St. Benedict mandates that the monks be hospitable to visitors and so one was assigned to speak with us. He showed us their well-groomed fields and immaculate kitchens and took us through their graveyard. He pointed to some roughed-up earth where, he said, a monk was buried. There was no stone. He said the dead monk was the greatly beloved former abbot. “Where’s his marker?” and, “Don’t you miss him?” jumped out of my mouth in the same sentence.

Our tour guide (very) gently explained that the abbot’s presence was felt profoundly every day but that they just hadn’t gotten around to carving a stone. Now I was really curious and popped up with, “Who will carve the stone and who carved the coffin?” He said they had no stone-carver but a stone was coming from another monastery. He said there was no coffin as monks were just wrapped in a sheet and “returned to the earth” when they died.

Later that evening (after a Spartan meal of bread and soup) our guide had a short Q and A with us. I tried to compliment him on his very austere life style but he would have none of it. He said, “I admire you with your family responsibilities and working ‘in the world’ every day.”

The good feeling that emanates from St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, MA is so palpable that you sense it just by driving by. I recommend that you make the effort and visit some time. There you will see, as I did, the rewards of keeping your mind occupied with good things and keeping your spirit focused on God.

I’m not moralizing. This linear universe is just a technical fact. If you can only hold one thought at a time and that thought is correct then, for that moment, your life becomes correct, i.e., happy. If you keep stringing correct thoughts together then your life becomes happy for as long as you do it.

Where’s the down side to this situation?

]]> By: Nicholas http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Nicholas Mon, 11 Jun 2007 03:54:33 +0000 http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/#comment-28 Steven, For years i used to put my relationship life (love & friendship) on hold waiting till i had grown enough to happy. At the time i didn't realise, but what i was doing was not engaging in relationships because i wanted to be perfect. Anything less, wouldn't be fair on the other individual (buying a flawed or faulty product was my thought)... so my entire life was an improvement project. But one day, i heard the old axiom "life is about the journey, not the destination" and something clicked. I am not an improvement project ... i am me. And with that realisation, a great weight was lifted from my shoulders. I started to enjoy my life. Even the things that sometimes wen pear-shaped in my life bought a measure of satisfaction. Because it was all me ... I'm not trying to improve myself anymore .. coz i know that i am anyway. Instead, i try to appreciate all things and everyone i meet more ... Steven,
For years i used to put my relationship life (love & friendship) on hold waiting till i had grown enough to happy. At the time i didn’t realise, but what i was doing was not engaging in relationships because i wanted to be perfect. Anything less, wouldn’t be fair on the other individual (buying a flawed or faulty product was my thought)… so my entire life was an improvement project.

But one day, i heard the old axiom “life is about the journey, not the destination” and something clicked. I am not an improvement project … i am me. And with that realisation, a great weight was lifted from my shoulders. I started to enjoy my life. Even the things that sometimes wen pear-shaped in my life bought a measure of satisfaction. Because it was all me … I’m not trying to improve myself anymore .. coz i know that i am anyway. Instead, i try to appreciate all things and everyone i meet more …

]]> By: Aranya Frantz http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Aranya Frantz Mon, 11 Jun 2007 03:28:12 +0000 http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/#comment-27 Hi Steven, About 6 months ago as I was heading into yet another "transition" or I would call it bardo, I found my self stopping in the middle of a worry, disgruntled mind trip and saying - oh there I go again, the pursuit of happiness game, it's time to stop TRYING to figure out how to be happy. I find that I always start laughing whenever I remind myself of this - I mean like right out loud! And I always feel so relieved, light hearted and just joyous whenever I am able to stop myself and say - hey relax you are trying so hard to MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY! I am laughing now as I write this. I see that you are relating this to meditaion. I have been a meditation practioner for 23 years and fortunately I generally never thought of it as the creator of happiness - just a way to work with my mind so I tend to work with my mind whether I am sitting on a cushion "meditating' or driving, talking, sitting at the computer etc. All the best and thanks for the note Stephen. Hi Steven,

About 6 months ago as I was heading into yet another “transition” or I would call it bardo, I found my self stopping in the middle of a worry, disgruntled mind trip and saying – oh there I go again, the pursuit of happiness game, it’s time to stop TRYING to figure out how to be happy. I find that I always start laughing whenever I remind myself of this – I mean like right out loud! And I always feel so relieved, light hearted and just joyous whenever I am able to stop myself and say – hey relax you are trying so hard to MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY! I am laughing now as I write this. I see that you are relating this to meditaion. I have been a meditation practioner for 23 years and fortunately I generally never thought of it as the creator of happiness – just a way to work with my mind so I tend to work with my mind whether I am sitting on a cushion “meditating’ or driving, talking, sitting at the computer etc.

All the best and thanks for the note Stephen.

]]> By: deborah http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/comment-page-1/#comment-25 deborah Mon, 11 Jun 2007 02:35:24 +0000 http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/#comment-25 this is a great post. what if we noticed that we actually loved that paint chip, and that torn lace, and that worn place in the sofa because they held so many memories of being loved and laughing. thanks for a provocative idea. this is a great post. what if we noticed that we actually loved that paint chip, and that torn lace, and that worn place in the sofa because they held so many memories of being loved and laughing.

thanks for a provocative idea.

]]> By: Kevin Knoll http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Kevin Knoll Mon, 11 Jun 2007 02:15:14 +0000 http://advancedmeditation.com/blog/this-old-self/#comment-22 Bliss! The state of connectedness to everything and at peace with everything. In the co-creative power of the Universe listening for the next bit of wisdom to explore and experience. Like resting under the Bodhi tree counting clouds in the land of Oz, but without all those crazy monkeys in the branches. Bliss! The state of connectedness to everything and at peace with everything. In the co-creative power of the Universe listening for the next bit of wisdom to explore and experience. Like resting under the Bodhi tree counting clouds in the land of Oz, but without all those crazy monkeys in the branches.

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