Guest guest Posted January 28, 2006 Report Share Posted January 28, 2006 Namah Shivaya, All of this reminds me of the movie "What the bleep do we know" in which they explained how we can keep going to the same feeling state(thoughts) out of habit. Their model is that the nerve pathways are very well established to these negative thoughts or part of the brain.. The way out of it is to establish new pathways to positive thoughts, and eventually these nerve pathways are more established and the old pathways gradually fade away. I would imagine that the way we process information has to do with the established pathways - i.e. habitual thoughts. The thing is, these are actual nerve pathways and not some vague airy fairy flitting butterfly like things. As someone said to me long ago, "I wish I could just drop my head off at the shop to be fixed, and I'll pick it up on Thursday". So the more we meditate, the more we establish ourselves in a loving frame of mind, the more we can stay there, come from there. Mostly I wish there was less of ME. nierika wrote: > > Dear menoj_menon, > > I believe what you have crafted by your own experience and observation > is > very worthwhile and very much related to the topic of Amma and > spirituality. I > believe your distinction between "automatic thoughts" and > "self-directed" > thought is very significance, and I have actually come across this > distinction > in other contexts, one the field of psychology, the other, the field of > shamanism. > > In Cognitive (slash Behavioral) Psychology (e.g., Dr. Phil), the > important > thing is to become aware of what you are saying to yourself when you > are not > "thinking" In other words, what are your automatic thoughts? These > are usually > the ones that get us into the most trouble; they are often self > negating or > negating of others; they often run around in circles like a gerbil on a > wheel. Interestingly, the same distinction also exists within the > context of > shamanism, especially as taught by Don Juan. Don Juan was always > telling Carlos > Casteneda to be aware of his "inner dialog." Without conscious > awareness of this > "inner dialog," which as I said, is often at worst, self-negating, > and, at > best, cycling nonsense ... as I have cycled 'round and 'round on the > thought > "my mother took my money." > > Does the thought change anything? Does it communicate anything to my > mother? > Does it help me in any way? No, No and No. The more I think it, the > worse I > feel. When one becomes aware of the inner dialog, then one can begin > to think > consciously, with direction, and thus thoughts become like horses who > love > us and will do whatever we ask of them. They will help us complete a > task. They > will help us begin a task. They will give us the motive energy to go in a > new and unfamiliar direction. > > I am also glad that you included ideas and intuition in your map of the > inner workings of the mind. As I was reading what you wrote, my > thoughts were > saying, "but, but, but ... but what about those times when I am creating > something." What I have discovered is that my most creative time > occurs when there > is nothing else going on. There is nothing I have to give my attention > to; > there is nothing I have to do. (Actually, there may be plenty I have > to do, but > if I can put myself in this open-ended mode ... all kinds of creative > things > pour out of me.) At some point, this becomes related to what you refer > to as > directed thinking. I am doing nothing. I am wandering around. I am > noticing or > feeling and suddenly, the words to a song or a poem appear in my head. I > grab for the nearest pen and paper and start writing it down. This is > not > automatic thinking but it may be akin to automatic writing, because I > really feel I > am just a channel. > > Lots of good food for thought. Thank you ~ Linda P.S. I don't agree > that > 100% of our time should be spent in self-directed thinking because it > is in the > thoughtless open space kind of "time," which I actually experience as no > time, that most of my creativity flows from. But, to get that > creativity to the > next level ... to get the painting hung in a gallery; to get that song > on the > top 40, that takes directed thinking, and I have been better at the > former > than the latter. Now I am working on the directed part. > > > menoj_menon wrote: > > >> Before defining Thought, let's examine 2 types of thought. > >> 1. Automatic Thought. > >> These are the biggest killers of time and energy. These are thoughts > >> that flip through our thinking apparatus during times when we have no > >> sense of purpose. Times can be as short as seconds, or minutes, or > >> even years. > > >> ...Properties of such thought: > >> a. There is no "sense of purpose" > >> b. It is a waste of time and energy. > >> c. Is a result of an unsure "state of being" > >> d. Is wishing for a "later" instead of being in the "now" > > >> ...2. Self-directed (or Conscious) Thought. > >> This is when we are consciously involved in thinking...THIS IS A VERY > >> HEALTHY USE OF TIME, and ideally all 100% of our time should be > >> spent in such Self-directed thinking. > > >>...Properties of such thought: > >> a. Purposeful. > >> b. Serves atleast oneself, or others, or both. > >> c. are a result of a sure "state of being" > >> d. is in the "now" > >> e. Healthy distribution channel for our energy. > > >> ...An idea comes from the intuitive and spiritual domain of > ourselves. It > >> is a unique abstraction of the environment. > >> Somewhat tough to explain, and can only be understood by a question. > >> for e.g. WHAT REALLY IS A MANGO? and WHAT REALLY IS SWEET? Everybody > >> has a different unique understanding of mango and its sweetness, and > >> what sweetness really is. > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > ------ > > > * Visit your group "Ammachi > <Ammachi>" on the web. > > * > Ammachi > <Ammachi?subject=Un> > > * Terms of > Service <>. > > > ------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2006 Report Share Posted January 28, 2006 Amma saiys that when we keep chanting our mantras, it'sll bring us to that state. They must make some powerful connections in our brains. Prasadini <ganesh1008 wrote: Namah Shivaya, All of this reminds me of the movie "What the bleep do we know" in which they explained how we can keep going to the same feeling state(thoughts) out of habit. Their model is that the nerve pathways are very well established to these negative thoughts or part of the brain.. The way out of it is to establish new pathways to positive thoughts, and eventually these nerve pathways are more established and the old pathways gradually fade away. I would imagine that the way we process information has to do with the established pathways - i.e. habitual thoughts. The thing is, these are actual nerve pathways and not some vague airy fairy flitting butterfly like things. As someone said to me long ago, "I wish I could just drop my head off at the shop to be fixed, and I'll pick it up on Thursday". So the more we meditate, the more we establish ourselves in a loving frame of mind, the more we can stay there, come from there. Mostly I wish there was less of ME. nierika wrote: > > Dear menoj_menon, > > I believe what you have crafted by your own experience and observation > is > very worthwhile and very much related to the topic of Amma and > spirituality. I > believe your distinction between "automatic thoughts" and > "self-directed" > thought is very significance, and I have actually come across this > distinction > in other contexts, one the field of psychology, the other, the field of > shamanism. > > In Cognitive (slash Behavioral) Psychology (e.g., Dr. Phil), the > important > thing is to become aware of what you are saying to yourself when you > are not > "thinking" In other words, what are your automatic thoughts? These > are usually > the ones that get us into the most trouble; they are often self > negating or > negating of others; they often run around in circles like a gerbil on a > wheel. Interestingly, the same distinction also exists within the > context of > shamanism, especially as taught by Don Juan. Don Juan was always > telling Carlos > Casteneda to be aware of his "inner dialog." Without conscious > awareness of this > "inner dialog," which as I said, is often at worst, self-negating, > and, at > best, cycling nonsense ... as I have cycled 'round and 'round on the > thought > "my mother took my money." > > Does the thought change anything? Does it communicate anything to my > mother? > Does it help me in any way? No, No and No. The more I think it, the > worse I > feel. When one becomes aware of the inner dialog, then one can begin > to think > consciously, with direction, and thus thoughts become like horses who > love > us and will do whatever we ask of them. They will help us complete a > task. They > will help us begin a task. They will give us the motive energy to go in a > new and unfamiliar direction. > > I am also glad that you included ideas and intuition in your map of the > inner workings of the mind. As I was reading what you wrote, my > thoughts were > saying, "but, but, but ... but what about those times when I am creating > something." What I have discovered is that my most creative time > occurs when there > is nothing else going on. There is nothing I have to give my attention > to; > there is nothing I have to do. (Actually, there may be plenty I have > to do, but > if I can put myself in this open-ended mode ... all kinds of creative > things > pour out of me.) At some point, this becomes related to what you refer > to as > directed thinking. I am doing nothing. I am wandering around. I am > noticing or > feeling and suddenly, the words to a song or a poem appear in my head. I > grab for the nearest pen and paper and start writing it down. This is > not > automatic thinking but it may be akin to automatic writing, because I > really feel I > am just a channel. > > Lots of good food for thought. Thank you ~ Linda P.S. I don't agree > that > 100% of our time should be spent in self-directed thinking because it > is in the > thoughtless open space kind of "time," which I actually experience as no > time, that most of my creativity flows from. But, to get that > creativity to the > next level ... to get the painting hung in a gallery; to get that song > on the > top 40, that takes directed thinking, and I have been better at the > former > than the latter. Now I am working on the directed part. > > > menoj_menon wrote: > > >> Before defining Thought, let's examine 2 types of thought. > >> 1. Automatic Thought. > >> These are the biggest killers of time and energy. These are thoughts > >> that flip through our thinking apparatus during times when we have no > >> sense of purpose. Times can be as short as seconds, or minutes, or > >> even years. > > >> ...Properties of such thought: > >> a. There is no "sense of purpose" > >> b. It is a waste of time and energy. > >> c. Is a result of an unsure "state of being" > >> d. Is wishing for a "later" instead of being in the "now" > > >> ...2. Self-directed (or Conscious) Thought. > >> This is when we are consciously involved in thinking...THIS IS A VERY > >> HEALTHY USE OF TIME, and ideally all 100% of our time should be > >> spent in such Self-directed thinking. > > >>...Properties of such thought: > >> a. Purposeful. > >> b. Serves atleast oneself, or others, or both. > >> c. are a result of a sure "state of being" > >> d. is in the "now" > >> e. Healthy distribution channel for our energy. > > >> ...An idea comes from the intuitive and spiritual domain of > ourselves. It > >> is a unique abstraction of the environment. > >> Somewhat tough to explain, and can only be understood by a question. > >> for e.g. WHAT REALLY IS A MANGO? and WHAT REALLY IS SWEET? Everybody > >> has a different unique understanding of mango and its sweetness, and > >> what sweetness really is. > > > > > > > > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > ------ > > > * Visit your group "Ammachi > <Ammachi>" on the web. > > * > Ammachi > <Ammachi?subject=Un> > > * Terms of > Service <>. > > > ------ > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! Mata amritanandamayi Visit your group "Ammachi" on the web. Ammachi Autos. Looking for a sweet ride? Get pricing, reviews, & more on new and used cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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