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tion which keeps us focused on the breath. As we do this, the mind begins to quiet, and this allows distinct voices to come through more loud and clear. |
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It is this incessant chatter of the mind that is taking place continually during our normal waking lives that contributes to our lapses of concentration, confusion, and poor decision making. Fear thoughts and greed thoughts are part of what may filter through. This exercise aims at more clearly being able to identify exactly what voice is clamoring for attention. |
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Now, for this exercise, rather than bringing the mind back each time it is whisked away by a thought, we are simply going to follow it wherever it chooses to go. We want to begin to understand how our mental associations work, and how subtle feelings become associated with our thoughts. |
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With eyes closed, begin to simply observe the thoughts that arise. Without getting caught in whatever the content of your thoughts is, see if you can simply watch as one thought arises and how it leads to another. Following the chain of your thoughts may lead you into a fantasy that includes images. With the eyes closed, it is easier for images to accompany your thoughts. You may also notice that certain thoughts lead to subtle feelings. See what feelings, if any, may come up as you watch your own chain of thoughts. |
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Thought watching, besides being instructive in knowing something about how your mind operates, can be entertaining. You can get to the point where you view watching your own thoughts as every bit as enjoyable and entertaining as watching a television show or a movie. Because, as you get into the content of your thought chains, it is quite similar to a movie, with images, feelings, elaborate story lines, and even dramatic endings. |
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One important thing we realize from thought watching is this: Feelings do not just arise out of the mental cauldron all by themselves. If you pay close attention, you will notice that even subtle feeling states are preceded by a chain of thoughts. So, the equation is this: Thought leads to subtle feeling and subtle feeling states lead to stronger emotions. |
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When you notice fear or desire come up as end states, realize, then, that they are always going to be attached to some kind of fearful or desirous thought. See if you can identify the fearful thought that has led to the feeling state. And then do your best to neutralize the fearful thought. As soon as you can confront and neutralize the fearful thought, you will see that the feeling state is diminished. But |
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