[BernadetteMember]

“Fused with thought” is a very accurate description. I would like to stay with this train of thought for a little while as i sense inwardly that the dialogue between us is having an ungluing effect on that fusion. Is it ok with you if i pursue this further here?

[BernadetteMember]

Hi Ivan

That is reassuring. Ok, on we go!.

[BernadetteMember]

Hi Julian over there in Christchurch 🙂

Thank you, I would appreciate knowing someone here in Perth involved in this pathway..B

[BernadetteMember]

Hi Ivan,

So I think, and that act of thinking takes up all my mind space and then something? happens and my attention expands to include the fact that i am thinking. This moment of expansion makes me feel uncomfortable alot during these days right now. I have to calm myself to accept the expansion. Included in the expanded field of attention are all my body sensations and that can feel good or not good. I sometimes swallow with fear on reentering awareness.

If i try to make the dawning of awareness a joyful experience it feels forced and like im setting myself up for a fall the next time i get distracted.

Does any of this sound familiar to you?
Bernadette

[BernadetteMember]

Hi Tom,

Bernadette 🙂

[BernadetteMember]

Hi Ivan,

That is clear. Thank you. There is no dharma group here in Perth Aus, that I know of that follows the TMI pathway so skilful use of the book is important for me.

With thanks Bernadette

[BernadetteMember]

Dear Ivan,

Thank you for that reply. Would you kindly give me a page number in the book or perhaps explicitly state here the steps you refer to?

Kind regards Bernadette

[BernadetteMember]

Hi Ivan,

Thank you for the feedback

Then is it true to say that responding to the perception of thinking with complete equanimity is the wisest way to go? A bit like not making a big deal of the changes in the outside weather but definitely noting them as an event.

With interest Bernadette

[BernadetteMember]

Hi Ivan,

Your comment is helpful. Where you describe that I am creating a new relationship to thought wrapped itself neatly into my neuronal pathways, if that even happens with thoughts. Nevertheless the comment was meaningful and orienting for me. The other parts of your comments I am still processing now. Some parts shimmer with potential like I am just about to understand them.

So is it true to say that the relationship to thought is being changed by the repeated perception of thought happening without a grabbing or pushing away response occurring?

Thank you Bernadette

[BernadetteMember]

I am unsure of how to reply to separate individuals comments to my post. Would you kindly let me know how to reply to for example, Frederic’s comment only first and then Ted’s?

Hi Frederic,

Thank you for your answer. The following part of your answer made sense to me and the rest fell, sadly, on an inexperienced mind.
“Basically, you try to keep the sensations of the breath at the center of your attention without shutting out anything at all. More than “concentration”, you want stability of attention whatever happens.”

Here are my questions as a result of considering the (immediately) above words of yours along with my experience on the cushion this morning.

When I am on the cushion I can stay focused with attention on the breath but when I move, inwardly, off the the breath to expand my field of attention into awareness that movement gets mixed up, sensation wise, with a movement to follow a distraction.

Am I misnaming what is actually going on? Straight feedback on this point is most appreciated. I am a hardy soul.

Is the inward perception of awareness and attention on the breath an expanding (for awareness) and contracting (for attention) experience and therefore an experience of sequential states? Should I be feeling a movement introspectively to perceive the change from one state to another?

Thank you for your kind attention to these questions.
Bernadette

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