I am curious as to whether those who are critical of MBSR actually have any experience of it?
"I tried it, but didn't find it satisfactory because...( insert reasons )" seems like a more credible response than "I just don't like the sound of it".
Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
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Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
Buddha save me from new-agers!
Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
And that has to be debunked and clarified once and for all.aflatun wrote: I think I understand. But remembering some of the secular mindfulness literature I have read, its generally emphasized that enjoyment is not the point, but awareness is.
Mindfullness' purpose is, before anything else, "recollection".
Science tells us that the best way to "recollect" is to play the DMN & the EAS in unisson, in cooperation.
Note that the external attention does not have to be "external" - that is to say towards the external ayatanāni.
In Ānāpānasati, focusing with the EAS on breath, while resting your body and mind with DMN, does not require to focus on any external ayatanāni.
In this world, there are many people acting and yearning for the Mara's world; some for the Brahma's world; and very few for the Unborn.
Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
Until moha, lobha and dosa are eradicated then unwholesome states will keep rearising, that is the nature of samsara.Spiny Norman wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2017 11:07 amBut there are moods and states of mind which persist over time, hence the need for Right Effort.
the right effort is already there if there is any understanding of the present moment.
But what often happens is that we resist what is arising and try to change it to what we wish would arise. Dosa about the dosa. And that is because of not understanding the conditioned nature of each moment.
Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
Another debunking is needed here about not being able to change things.
I have shown in an above post, that science has proven that mindfulness is not just sheer "awareness".
Now, what is necessary also, is to prove that things can be changed at the "I" level (internal ayatanāni).
https://justpaste.it/1dlfh
Note that, it also shows that classical physics is debunking the myth of the making and unmaking of dhammas in a jiffy.
It is about time to see that science meets Buddha's views; and that they should be considered as such (viz. scientifically wise).
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"Present moment", as in seeing a feeling being born from the mindfulness of breath (in doing ānāpānasati) - then seeing that feeling decay. That I do agree with.
No big deal, I suppose.
In this world, there are many people acting and yearning for the Mara's world; some for the Brahma's world; and very few for the Unborn.
Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
Why doesn't the Buddha give this advice to Rahula when he advises him to reflect on the consequences of his actions?Spiny Norman wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2017 11:15 amLet go of.
"The intellect is not yours: let go of it. Your letting go of it will be for your long-term happiness & benefit. Ideas are not yours... Intellect-consciousness is not yours... Intellect-contact is not yours... Whatever arises in dependence on intellect-contact, experienced either as pleasure, as pain, or as neither-pleasure-nor-pain, that too is not yours: let go of it. Your letting go of it will be for your long-term happiness & benefit."
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
I think because they belong to different levels of development of the gradual path. Good sila is required to develop the calm and insight enabling the letting go...
Mike
Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
I can't do it, because I have no idea how to be "nonjudgmentally aware", and nobody wants to/can teach me that.Spiny Norman wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2017 11:23 amI am curious as to whether those who are critical of MBSR actually have any experience of it?
"I tried it, but didn't find it satisfactory because...( insert reasons )" seems like a more credible response than "I just don't like the sound of it".
I listen to JKZ giving instructions on how to be "nonjudgmentally aware" and he might as well be speaking Chinese (of which I don't understand a word).
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And then what?robertk wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2017 8:21 amI would say any phenomena which arises only for an instant , then ceases immediately- as all dhammas do- is insignificant and if seen as such wouldn't even need to be dismissed.binocular wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2017 7:03 amOn the other hand, there is an approach both in psychology as well as in popular Buddhism that has a practice of considering thoughts, feelings, etc. as "just thoughts, just feelings," etc. with the implication that this somehow makes them eminently dismissable. It's this practice that trivializes thoughts, feelings, etc. -- and it is this trivialization that I have been fighting all along (although it seems unsuccessfully).
In my experience, when I try to let in the seen be only the seen etc., I end up in a kind of anomic, zoned-out state, like a blissed-out zombie. That can't be right!
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
And JKZ, for example, is advanced in sila like that?
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
I've no idea. But I think you may be identifying a problem that some of these secular techniques seem to jump immediately to a rather advanced form of practice.
Of course, there are different levels of "letting go". I think what Spiney quoted was quite advanced.
Mike
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Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
Rāhula was only seven and newly ordained, so the Buddha gave him an exhortation on sīla. It's in the Cūḷarāhulovāda Sutta that he is given an insight-related discourse that leads him to arahatta.
http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/middle-l ... vada-sutta
Rūpehi bhikkhave arūpā santatarā.
Arūpehi nirodho santataro ti.
“Bhikkhus, the formless is more peaceful than the form realms.
Cessation is more peaceful than the formless realms.”
(Santatarasutta, Iti 73)
Arūpehi nirodho santataro ti.
“Bhikkhus, the formless is more peaceful than the form realms.
Cessation is more peaceful than the formless realms.”
(Santatarasutta, Iti 73)
Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
It isn't right, but it's a fairly common 'wrong turning' for people to take. I'm not sure if I can explain the difference in any understandable way, though.
One approach is to liken it to the difference between observing the breath in meditation, and controlling the breath - another common 'wrong turning.' When we are trying to simply observe the breath, we can slip into controlling it instead, without even noticing that's what we're doing, and that can lead to all sorts of unwanted tension and discomfort.
Similarly, when we are trying to simply observe the seen, we can slip into trying to actively shut down our thoughts and judgements, rather than letting them float away.
I'm not sure that will make sense, but it's the best I can do. Maybe someone else can do better?
Kim
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Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
Of course it's not right. You cannot separate the seen from the seer. It is one activity that your mind has divided into two parts. You cannot be 'non judgmentally aware'. All perception is judgemental at this stage. Stop fighting it and trying to lead it somewhere. This is the activity that is disturbing you. The kind of relaxation and withdrawal from focusing on mental and emotional disturbances needs to happen first. This is done with calming/tranquility practice. The attention withdraws from this activity of thoughts and feelings and you might find yourself feeling blissful. Nothing wrong with that. It is just a stage, an effect. Vipassana, insight, can happen then, but only if the other conditions are present.
Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
Exactly right.Kim OHara wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2017 9:43 pmIt isn't right, but it's a fairly common 'wrong turning' for people to take. I'm not sure if I can explain the difference in any understandable way, though.
Similarly, when we are trying to simply observe the seen, we can slip into trying to actively shut down our thoughts and judgements, rather than letting them float away.
Kim
All of that *trying* to observe etc is based around a subtle belief that there is someone who can make things occur.
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Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
Hi, maybe this can be of some help - if not, sorry ..Kim OHara wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2017 9:43 pmIt isn't right, but it's a fairly common 'wrong turning' for people to take. I'm not sure if I can explain the difference in any understandable way, though.
One approach is to liken it to the difference between observing the breath in meditation, and controlling the breath - another common 'wrong turning.' When we are trying to simply observe the breath, we can slip into controlling it instead, without even noticing that's what we're doing, and that can lead to all sorts of unwanted tension and discomfort.
Similarly, when we are trying to simply observe the seen, we can slip into trying to actively shut down our thoughts and judgements, rather than letting them float away.
I'm not sure that will make sense, but it's the best I can do. Maybe someone else can do better?
Kim
The point that includes everything - Ajahn sumedho:
https://www.amaravati.org/audio/the-poi ... ction-198/
If you didn't care
What happened to me
And I didn't care for you
We would zig-zag our way
Through the boredom and pain
Occasionally glancing up through the rain
Wondering which of the
Buggers to blame
And watching for pigs on the wing
- Roger Waters
What happened to me
And I didn't care for you
We would zig-zag our way
Through the boredom and pain
Occasionally glancing up through the rain
Wondering which of the
Buggers to blame
And watching for pigs on the wing
- Roger Waters
Re: Master of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn
I suppose this guy, for example, has considerable meditation attainment too ... (Now how's that for provoking prejudices about spiritual attainment?)
Anyway, my point is that the suttas are anything but shy when it comes to straightforwardly talking about morality, while the secular mindfulness folks seem to shun it. Maybe they are deliberately trying to be neutral, or they take it for granted (and see no need to talk about it explicitly), or they are just so advanced that I cannot even begin to comprehend them.
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What you're describing is something awfully advanced, namely, direct perception, ie. a perception that is not conditioned.Kim OHara wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2017 9:43 pmIt isn't right, but it's a fairly common 'wrong turning' for people to take. I'm not sure if I can explain the difference in any understandable way, though.
One approach is to liken it to the difference between observing the breath in meditation, and controlling the breath - another common 'wrong turning.' When we are trying to simply observe the breath, we can slip into controlling it instead, without even noticing that's what we're doing, and that can lead to all sorts of unwanted tension and discomfort.
Similarly, when we are trying to simply observe the seen, we can slip into trying to actively shut down our thoughts and judgements, rather than letting them float away.
I'm not sure that will make sense, but it's the best I can do. Maybe someone else can do better?
I find it hard to believe that all those masses of folks doing mindfulness meditation have attained to direct perception.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!