Re: Own Thoughts

[John <jsdwd@ksc.th.com>]

on 8/14/01 5:36 am, Vic Forte at forte@clara.co.uk wrote:

> We don't control our thoughts perfectly. But we do within limits. This is
> obvious after a couple of minutes sitting quietly on your own.

.........snipped.........
.

> 
> First try controlling your thoughts by focussing on something and saying to
> yourself "I must concentrate on one thought".
> 
> Next try just accepting whatever thoughts come along in a state of detached
> awareness without any effort to interfere, control or suppress.

A couple of references are "Thoughts Without a Thinker" by a psychiatrist
Mark Epstein.  This book examines the relationship between psychotherapy and
so-called 'Eastern' thinking.

Second is a book called. 'Start Where you Are" by Pema Chodron.  She is a
Tibetan Buddhist Nun and there is an interesting discussion of thought
control.

While I think of it, "The Miracle of Mindfulness" by Tich Nyatt Hanh, a
Vietnamese Zen Buddhist master, is also interesting on this subject.

Also, "The Wisdom of Impermanence" by Alan Watts is an interesting
discussion of the role of variation in life and also connects to the subject
of thoughts and controlling one's thoughts.

All of these books should be available through Amazon, Powells or similar
internet sites.

For my two cents worth, it is unlikely that we can sit and think of any one
thought for long or at least not until after the mind has been cleared of
most thought.  This is the role of breathing exercises in meditation.  Once
one has stilled thought, then one is much better able to concentrate the
mind.

Of course, this is but the beginning of a vastly complex discussion most
likely well beyond the scope of this group.  Feel free to email with more
thoughts or discussion.

John Dowd
jsdwd@ksc.th.com