adapted from teachings of the Buddha M 138
Reading this passage by itself may be useful, but its real value comes when you actually bring it into your daily life
You might first ask yourself:
Can I notice times when I am distracted and scattered externally? When the world pulls me into its spinning?
When I let needs of others throw me off balance?
In a day or two move to the following exploration.
Do I get stuck internally? Am I so focused on keeping balance, in protecting my space, that I do not even notice others? That I don't notice small pleasures? Like the falling rain and sound of thunder? A flower blooming beside me?
Then come back to exploring balance of the two
Both in practice and in life - can I rest in a secure base of my own and open to others? Do I hear others, but also listen to my self? Do I listen to the voices of both body and mind? Internally and externally?
Also consider bringing this exploration into very subtle investigations of experience in your meditation practice.
Where does your attention go when you close your eyes? What happens to your attention after you spend some time stabilizing the mind? Is the rate of changing attention different? Do different objects draw your attention?
If your consciousness is not distracted and scattered externally
nor stuck internally,
and if by not clinging you do not become agitated,
then for you there is no origination of suffering....
Reading this passage by itself may be useful, but its real value comes when you actually bring it into your daily life
You might first ask yourself:
Can I notice times when I am distracted and scattered externally? When the world pulls me into its spinning?
When I let needs of others throw me off balance?
In a day or two move to the following exploration.
Do I get stuck internally? Am I so focused on keeping balance, in protecting my space, that I do not even notice others? That I don't notice small pleasures? Like the falling rain and sound of thunder? A flower blooming beside me?
Then come back to exploring balance of the two
Both in practice and in life - can I rest in a secure base of my own and open to others? Do I hear others, but also listen to my self? Do I listen to the voices of both body and mind? Internally and externally?
Also consider bringing this exploration into very subtle investigations of experience in your meditation practice.
Where does your attention go when you close your eyes? What happens to your attention after you spend some time stabilizing the mind? Is the rate of changing attention different? Do different objects draw your attention?
