[Philip RMember]

Thanks for this, Alex.

I have also played around with this over past months. I feel myself that the only worthwhile way is practise, practise, practise. My experience is also that it’s helpful to practise this same ‘skill’ in daily life. Even for a few seconds. I sometimes stop and listen, or look, and see something for just itself, rather than giving it a name. Often it has to happen in reverse. I hear a sound, and the thought follows…(loud, car, fast), but then I stop and hear it again, just for the sound, nothing else. Observing how I’m seeing or hearing is the trick.

If my mind is in a spacious, fairly receptive, empty state, then I find this is then easier to do.

As far as sustaining it is concerned, I feel that the sustaining element isn’t to do with the fact of whether we’re ‘labeling’ or not, but rather whether the mind is staying ‘open’. The ‘labeling’ is a thought, but experiencing sensations without thought comes from a quiet mind and as long as the mind is still, time doesn’t come into it. There’s simply the sensations, just felt sensations, speaking for themselves and not wanting to be ‘boxed in’ by a descriptive label.

Best wishes,

Philip

[Philip RMember]

Hi Eli,

I’m very new to this community and yours is the first post which I’ve read. I also started studying TMI in July. I’m finding it a really helpful resource which has allowed me to get a sense of where I’m at, having meditated for the past 40 years.

When I read your post my overall response was, ‘Be patient with yourself.’ It’s all okay. I’ve been greatly helped by listening to Culdasa in retreat talks on Utube, but one thing which came back to me when I read your post was him saying that ‘everyone’ has issues to deal with. So even the two people you mention who shut down communication with you, they also have a story which determines their responses. You’ve apologised, and you can only leave it there. But again, my feeling is, ‘Be patient with yourself and continue the daily practice.’

My own perception of ‘checkimg in’ is less specific than you’re suggesting. I have a tiny electronic alarm which I keep in my pocket. I set it on vibrate and every 50 minutes it goes off for approximately 15 seconds, all day long. Whatever I’m doing, for those 15 seconds I stop and just ‘check in’ which is usually just a matter of coming back to seeing how my mind is at that moment. It might be just a matter of having been involved in something where my attention had been too focused, and perhaps I’d lost my peripheral awareness, so it’s like someone saying to me, ‘How’s it going?’ The regularity of it is so helpful.

I do remember that feeling of needing to read a spiritual book constantly to keep myself on track, but again, if you’re patient with yourself and regular in your practice, I’ve found that it gets easier and easier to remain motivated. In the end it just becomes the source of all that one is and does.

Best wishes,

Philip

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