The Cycle of Searching

Hello Reader;

We are by now aware of meditation, how to use it to search within, how to sit in silence. But sometimes the desire to "know thyself" is less powerful, usually on a pretty day when the opportunity to go do things is present.

We tend to do our meditations when all is not quite right with the world, or when we "feel" like searching. This leaves a whole side of us unattended and often starts the downward spiral into mindless cycles of non-attention.

Attention is like a wild creature sometimes. It goes by itself down the path and often plays with thing it shouldn't. We are trained to look at what we do not like by our nature, so if we are not mindful we can find ourselves starting trouble for ourselves.

But mindfulness is tricky business and some days we lack the will to do it. The art of being interested in our  process is not in forcing our attention to obey us, but rather in allowing our focus to be light, and sure. We can observe always our feelings and inclinations, without always having to seek the origins.

Knowing the desires that are natural and often unpleasant, can prevent us from feeling powerless in our daily life. So feel free when the will to meditate is just not there to resolve yourself to just being attentive and aware. Be sure to follow mentally the desires to the most realistic conclusions.

The path of self awareness is not all meditation. Mine is often just leisurely observation during the social parts of the day. I do my Zen at night when my awareness is strongest.

The discovery of a simple mantra was a huge benefit to me recently. It was from the author Abraham Hicks, who said "Today, no matter where I am going, no matter what I am doing, no matter who I am doing it with, it is my dominant intention to look for that which I want to see." This is a clear mind speaking to us.

The reasoning here is about the choice we have everyday to look through our emotions like a filter but to intentionally use the filter to improve the quality of our experience. It is a good lesson (and while the author is using it for something other than meditation) it seems to apply here to our internal dialog.

I can ask myself if I am doing well, and perhaps if I feel like being well I will look for wellness so that I can say yes I am well. Otherwise I might ask myself and look more at my complaints and say "I am not well" these are choices.

They denote security and maturity. Be at all times looking for the wellness rather than the complaints. What a difference it makes in the zen. Every day is a good day.

So a great way to approach your self discovery is to hang a little mental note next to the behaviors that through observation are difficult for you. If you know you react badly to some subjects then those are the subjects to try harder on.

I am very disagreeable about many things, but I am aware of them and rather than shy away from them I am very careful during those conversations. This horse (or one just like it) had a sign on the barn saying careful I bite.

Most everyone who could read avoided this horse. I did not and no I did not get bit. The horse was terribly nervous and probably only bit because of that. So while I calmed him down a little voice said "hey mister he might bite you I wouldn't do that" The horse looked at me and neighed loudly as if to say "don't tell him the truth just yet." A very nervous kid versus a now very calm horse.

All I had to say was "he only bites girls and the boy was petting him with confidence." Then as I left him to wonder if the horse ever really bit at all and the little cowboy said "Nah this horse is nice."

What a difference. We all should be so lucky as to get a sign over our head saying "don't talk about money" or whatever because then someone might come along to remedy the thinking that troubles us. But this is the mindfulness that goes with us,

We can take long breaks from meditation. But we must still travel with ourselves, so we should bring mindfulness everywhere at all times. And we should give ourselves every opportunity to do better than the last time we let ourselves down.

Thanks for reading.