Posted inSpiritual practice/meditation

A time for mindfulness, a time for mind wandering

Balance. Not going to extremes. Yin and yang. Goldilocks' (and Buddha's) middle way. A New York Times essay, "Breathing In vs. Spacing Out," applies this to mindfulness and paying attention. There's a time to do this, and a time to let the mind scatter to the far corners of the cosmos. Or at least, to daydream about what we'll do when we win the lottery. But one of the most surprising findings of recent mindfulness studies is that it could have unwanted side effects. Raising roadblocks to the mind’s peregrinations could, after all, prevent the very sort of mental vacations…
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Posted inBuddhism Spiritual practice/meditation

Not-self a teaching of Buddhism, not Hinduism

It is extremely simplistic to speak of "Eastern" religions as if they all are much the same. Actually, they aren't. For example, in some regards Hinduism is closer to Christian theology than to Buddhist teachings. Case in point: not-self. Buddhists call this anatman.  The doctrine of anatman (or anatta in Pali) is one of the central teachings of Buddhism. According to this doctrine, there is no "self" in the sense of a permanent, integral, autonomous being within an individual existence. What we think of as our self, our personality and ego, are temporary creations of the skandhas. Hinduism also uses this term. But…
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Posted inRadha Soami Satsang Beas Spiritual practice/meditation

Where do good feelings and spiritual inspiration come from?

You go to a cathedral. Or a rock concert. You stand on the ocean shore watching a sunset. Or in St. Peter's Square as the Pope speaks.  If you feel uplifted, where does that sensation come from? The setting, what lies outside you? Your mind, what lies within you? Some combination of the two?  Good questions.  Most of us tend to speak rather simplistically about this. We'll say something like, "Disneyland was so much fun!" Or "I loved the movie I saw last night."  That is, we either ascribe a good feeling to some external entity or to ourselves. Both views…
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Posted inRadha Soami Satsang Beas Spiritual practice/meditation

The various delusions of Sant Mat belief

Below is a recent comment left by Osho Robbins on this post. Though it concerns the specific beliefs of the India-based Sant Mat religious philosophy, Robbins makes some points that apply to all forms of religiosity. Such as mistaking subjectivity for objectivity; faith for facts; wishful thinking for actual reality. I agree with almost everything Robbins says. I do, however, look upon "I don't know" a bit differently than he does. It seems to me that a don't-know attitude is justified in situations akin to a coin flip -- where the actual outcome is close to 50-50: could be this, or…
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Posted inBooks Spiritual practice/meditation

Jack Haas’ poetic wonder-filled aphorisms

I like Jack Haas a lot. Never met him. Just know him through his books. I've blogged about them here, here, here, and here. And now, here I go again.  I'd stuck Haas' "The Dream of Being" under some other books. A few days ago it came to light, no worse for wear. I finished reading the book this morning. As the front cover says, it's filled with aphorisms, ideograms, and aislings (vision poems). One of my here's has some passages from the book.  I'm sharing more. Haas has a great way of speaking about what can't be spoken about. He's…
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Posted inSpiritual practice/meditation

Simple, gentle meditation is the best

Since I no longer believe in looking upon life itself as a problem, I also have stopped viewing meditation as the solution to an existential problem. If there's no need to be saved, I don't need salvation. If there's no need to be enlightened, I don't need enlightenment. If there's no original sin or past life karma, I don't need forgiveness.  Yet I still meditate every morning. Just like I exercise every day. And read every day. I enjoy meditation. It's interesting. I feel that it's good for my mind. After looking upon meditation much more intensely and seriously for thirty…
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Posted inBuddhism Spiritual practice/meditation

When did humans start making life itself into a problem?

We all have problems in life. Life wouldn't be what it is, if it didn't involve problems. Every day we need to find food, water, shelter, and other necessities of life. Even when these are available, other problems arise. What is most important to do from moment to moment? How do we maintain good relationships with other people? What pleasures should be pursued and pains avoided? Since we are mammals, other types of animals share these concerns. Our two dogs, for example. (Of course, these pampered pets pretty much have the necessities of life handed to them by their supposed…
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Posted inBuddhism Spiritual practice/meditation

Mindfulness or Mindlessness video — good points about meditation

Thanks to a Tweet from David Chapman, I spent thirty minutes this morning watching a video of Robert Sharf talking about "Mindfulness or Mindlessness."  Demonstrating my own approach to the subject, I paid some bills while concentrating as much as I could on what Sharf had to say. Which was pretty darn interesting, albeit involving quite a few abstruse Buddhist terms. You should watch the video yourself if you want to know exactly what he said. Below I'll share some recollections of his talk, along with my own take on the themes that resonated with me.   Don't assume spirituality…
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Posted inScience Spiritual practice/meditation

Wandering mind and focused mind: we need both

Driving home after a Tai Chi class tonight, I listened to part of an NPR interview with several psychologists. They talked about creativity, daydreaming, focused attention, the brain's default network. Interesting stuff. The basic notion being discussed was that the brain has several ways of functioning. These aren't exhaustive, of course. Scientists are nowhere close to understanding the intricacies of how the brain works. But common sense is in line with what sometimes is called "experiential focus" and "narrative focus." One of the psychologists said it is like what happens when we drive a familiar route. We don't need to…
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Posted inBuddhism Spiritual practice/meditation

Attachment and detachment are equally good

I'm not big on the whole detachment thing. Strikes me as horribly unnatural. Why should we give up attachments, desires, cravings, longings? Than again, why shouldn't we? If someone feels like being attached to someone or something, great. Go for it, dude or dudette. If someone feels like detaching from someone or something, also great. Let loose, let go. There's no problem in wanting and not-wanting, clinging and releasing. Each of us does this countless times a day.  I just had a desire for a sip of coffee. I attached my fingers to the handle of my cup. I lifted…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories Spiritual practice/meditation

Stop talking to God… and other imaginary friends

I've decided that I talk too much. Not to other people. I do that just fine, in my opinion. Not too much, and not too little. Just about right. It's another type of talking I'm referring to. Talking to entities that aren't there, or can't understand me. For example... God. Our dogs. My dead mother and father. The now-deceased guru I used to follow. Myself.  Now, I don't really believe that any of these entities can comprehend what I'm saying, either because they don't exist (God, dead mother and father, guru) or don't have the ability (dogs). Myself is an…
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Posted inSpiritual practice/meditation Taoism/Tai Chi

Sung: the only Tai Chi most people need to know

Relax. Relax. Relax.  There. Really understand what "relax" means, and you've pretty much mastered the essence of Tai Chi. So said Cheng Man-ch'ing, one of the most eminent teachers of Tai Chi. Relax (sung). My teacher must have repeated these words many times each day. 'Relax! Relax! Relax completely! The whole body should completely relax!' Otherwise he said, 'Not relaxed, then you are like a punching bag.'  To comment on the single word sung is extremely difficult. If you can relax completely, then the rest is easy. Here I have written down what my teacher told me daily in order…
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Posted inReligions Spiritual practice/meditation

Imagine how you felt when you still believed

Almost everybody has believed in imaginary things.  God. Angels. Bigfoot. Flying saucers. Soul. That the barista at the coffee shop is really attracted to you when he/she smiles while handing over your drink. The list is endless. Because it feels good to believe in things that we want to be real, but almost certainly aren't.  How do we tell the difference between reality and illusion, fact and belief, actuality and hope? By using an everyday form of the scientific method: predict what would happen if your belief really is true. If that prediction comes to pass, or if the experiment…
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Posted inSpiritual practice/meditation

Make your own meaning… no validation required

I love the idea that life is meaningless. It fills me with joy to think that the cosmos doesn't give a crap about me, nor does the God who doesn't exist, nor the oft-mentioned "universe" -- in the sense of the universe is trying to teach me a lesson. No it isn't. Whatever lesson you or I are going to learn from an experience will come from us. Ditto for meaning. I used to believe there was an objectively real Meaning of Life. The main goal of life was to figure out what that truth was. But meaning isn't a fact…
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Posted inPersonal/Stories Spiritual practice/meditation

Finding joy in a meaningless life

A few days ago I was riding my bike in central Oregon. I was having a good time cruising around the dirt roads and nicely graveled bike paths in oh-so-charming Camp Sherman, where the Metolius River flows. Pedaling along, idly pondering the Meaning of It All, my brain ejected a marvelous thought that instantly struck me as having a great intuitive appeal. There's no meaning to life, which is absolutely freaking glorious! I felt like a weight had been lifted from my pondering psyche. Meaning is heavy, man. It isn't something you toss around lightly.  Even if you're no longer…
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Posted inSpiritual practice/meditation Taoism/Tai Chi

Be like Keats: embrace your “negative capability”

The final chapter in Oliver Burkeman's marvelous book, "The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking," is called Negative Capability. I liked it a lot.  Get your negative on! You'll feel better. Here's some excerpts from the chapter. That letter [by the poet John Keats] records what one Keats biographer has called a 'touchstone moment' in the history of literature: I had not a dispute but a disquisition, with Dilke on various subjects; several things dove-tailed in my mind, and at once it struck me what quality went to form a Man of Achievement, especially in Literature, and which…
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Posted inSpiritual practice/meditation

More thoughts on being your own “religion of one”

I've been enjoying the comments that have been left on my previous post, "Become your own weird religion of one." Thanks particularly to commenters "cc" and "Willie R."  You've made me think. About my own thinking. And wonder. About my own wondering.  In the post I said that I found it difficult to believe that I believe what I believe. That's true, but "cc" correctly noted there still is an illogical intuitive consistency in the weird stuff that courses through my psyche. Yes, everyone holds irrational beliefs and most of us believe we're not irrational people, but no one can…
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Posted inReligions Spiritual practice/meditation

Become your own weird religion of one

I'm churchless. I don't belong to any organized religion. But actually I'm still religious. In a marvelously disorganized sense.  Meaning, I believe in a religion of one -- my own. It's all about me, myself, and I. There are no other members of my religion than moi.  And I seek no other members. In fact, it would be impossible for anyone else than me to believe in my religion, because not even I do.  Likely you're confused about what I just said. Join the club. I am also. Believe me, I find it difficult to believe that I believe what…
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Posted inBooks Spiritual practice/meditation Taoism/Tai Chi

Religions’ search for security is self-defeating

My last post was about an over-zealous "security" volunteer at a meeting of a religious organization, Radha Soami Satsang Beas.  Coming across some quotes today from Alan Watts' marvelous book, "The Wisdom of Insecurity," in another excellent book -- "The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking" -- made me realize that the problem with the irritating security volunteer was his attachment to a religious teaching which promises security in the form of god-realization, salvation, eternal life in a heavenly realm. Security. This really isn't the solution to our problems, but the problem itself. Watts cogently points out…
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Posted inScience Spiritual practice/meditation

Metacognition tip: don’t worry about your worrying

I used to believe in positive thinking. Now, that seems like way too much trouble. I've become a lot more accepting of myself the way I actually am, rather than setting up some sort of Ideal Me that I'd compare myself to unfavorably. This is one of the big problems with religiosity. Being human is viewed as not good enough. Divinity, perfection, enlightenment -- that becomes the goal of life. So when I was browsing in central Oregon's marvelous Paulina Springs Bookstore and saw a book called "The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking," I had to…
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