We all experience reoccurring negative thoughts at some point in our lives. It might be when we replay an argument we have had with someone, or relive some past abuse which haunts us. When these negative thoughts arise, we are not living in the present moment any longer, but the past. How does this help … Continue reading Negativity
Tag: experience
I think, therefore the universe is.
As I entered the forest this morning, a myriad of experiences assaulted my senses. The bird song was prolific, the burbling chatter of the song thrush, the rich tones of the blackbirds, the rapid hurry of chaffinch notes and tweeting of the blue tits. The wind rushed through the swaying tree tops, roaring like a … Continue reading I think, therefore the universe is.
Reflection
What do we see when we look in a mirror? Do we see only the physical body looking back at us? Do we see further inside to what emotions we may be experiencing at that particular moment? Do the frown or smile lines make us consider what has happened to us in the past few … Continue reading Reflection
Learning
Imagine we had never been in a body of water, had never even seen one or known anyone else who had, but we suddenly decided, for whatever reason, that we wanted to learn how to swim. We could find a number of textbooks regarding the subject, we could read all about the different techniques, find … Continue reading Learning
Negativity
We all experience reoccurring negative thoughts at some point in our lives. It might be when we replay an argument we have had with someone, or relive some past abuse which haunts us. When these negative thoughts arise, we are not living in the present moment any longer, but the past. How does this help … Continue reading Negativity
Mind imposed order
We are incredibly conditioned creatures, far more than we are consciously aware and our minds control almost everything we see, hear, experience and do. If we learn a new word, something unusual that has caught our interest, so we remember it, we begin to see or hear this particular word much more frequently in the … Continue reading Mind imposed order
Beginner Vs Expert
We are all beginners at some point in our lives, just as we are all experts at certain things, things we have practiced countless times until we have become proficient. We may feel clumsy, as a beginner. We may find the path difficult and feel the urge to give up and often we do not … Continue reading Beginner Vs Expert
The Search
When we are little, we learn about growing up and long for it to rush upon us. Toddlers wear the big shoes of their parents, young girls watch with awe while their mothers apply makeup, young boys watch their fathers as they shave. It appears a compliment to be told ‘you’re so grown up’. Teenagers … Continue reading The Search
Appreciation
What is your normal habit when having a meal? At breakfast, do you eat with your family and discuss the day, or read a newspaper? At lunch do you chat with colleagues or stay at your desk working while you eat? In the evening do you visit a restaurant with friends or watch TV with … Continue reading Appreciation
Why do you sit?
This is a question many non-sitting people ask and a question difficult to answer. When sitting, no words are required, no explanation, no thinking, so to have to articulate why makes matters hard. When speaking to people who have never sat zazen, my answer varies, but the core is always the same. When I take … Continue reading Why do you sit?
Zen musings 