Human mind is very amazing. Yesterday night i did a thought experiment regarding concentration. I decided to walk back home from university while meditating on the sacred verse, "La ilaha illallah" which means, "There is no god but One God". What i was trying to do is to see how much concentration i can do on it, and how long can i keep other thoughts coming into my head.
The experiment result was not so positive. Although i was thinking and reciting on this verse and was trying not to think anything else, even then when my eye fell on something different thoughts arise. For example when i saw a car, immediately my father and family came to my mind. When i saw a mosque, it reminded me someone else. I saw a science park bus it reminded me Tushar bhai. Things like that. And also different thoughts came without a clue.
I was amazed to discover how visual clues are so closely associated with different memories of our life and known peoples. What i learned from Buddhist meditation helped me to concentrate more. I was aware of my passing thoughts (as if i was watching my sub-conscious thoughts from above acting as a separate being above my thoughts), letting them go and then again go back to my original goal. In 10 minutes walk i guess there were almost 20 or more different thoughts passed through my mind. How weak is my concentration (pls pray for me) !!
Oh, Lord bless my mind so that i can have crystal clear concentration while i remember You.
Tag: Concentration, Thought
Just to share.
ReplyDeleteSomething i did in my early 20s. Achieve a state where when you pour cold water on your body, all you feel is 'water' and not the 'cold'. The first is objective and the latter is subjective. I used this than to attempt be rid of the subjective paradigm the world as it exists imposes between our senses and the world. To appreciate phenomena in its true reality than the imposed subjective irrationality. Gradually, we can transcend ethnicity, nationality, gender, and so on, as we begin to appreciate reality, and ourselves within it, in its essence.
Just one step in a long and neverending journey towards enlightenmeent.
You're not weak... you're human! :)
ReplyDeleteDon't forget, the "trick" is not to FIGHT back alien thoughts, but to allow them to be. To be dis-associated with them. To watch them indifferently. Then they will go away. Then you become the Seer. Focusing on alien thoughts gives them energy - "Where attention goes, energy follows." Give the Self - or the object of your meditation - your effortless attention.
Blessings on all your future "experiments"!
Sensei explains it like this (paraphrased):
ReplyDelete"The idea of empty or no-mind is very much misunderstood. It is NOT about having no thoughts in your mind. It IS about learning to center and quiet your self to the point that you can hear the inspiration, the incoming meditative voice or message, your higher self, God speaking, your higher thoughts. It's learning how to center more deeply on who you are, on things other than the daily clutter."
I have watched, observed and lived with Sensei for many years. And I have the benefits of my own practices as well. What he says is true. If you think about it, it really makes sense.
You're trying to meditate. My post on Tuesday April 5 is about this, if it's possibly of use. Don't know if this link will work, but you can always get to it from the archives on my home page if this doesn't work: http://spiritualdiablog.blogspot.com/2005_04_01_spiritualdiablog_archive.html
ReplyDeleteToo long I think! Homepage easier!
Anyway, keep at it. For me, nothing happened for several months and I was wondering why I was still bothering. But it ended up becoming an important part of my life.
Thanks all for ur valuable comments. they keep me going and keep me thinking...
ReplyDeleteBelssings of God never stops for a moment.
Sadiq
I learned lot from ur article and from the comment
ReplyDeleteBeloved Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThanks for ur comment. its my pleasure and purely blessings of God.