Monk in Forest, by Steve McCurry, the Atlantic
Playing Tetris the other day, I realized that while part of my mind was focused on the game, a big part of my mind was still “chattering” away with obsessive, neurotic worry. Worry about the economy. Worry about my weight. Worry about something someone said that offended me three months ago. Worry, worry, worry!
Put Your Attention on Inappropriate Thoughts
Buddhists often refer to this incessant mind chatter as “inappropriate attention” or “unskilled thinking”. One monk, the story goes, was sitting in the forest thinking “unskilled thoughts” (thoughts of ill-will, thoughts of doing harm and the like) when a devata (aka Heavenly Being) approached him. [For you non-Buddhists, insert the mental image here of Obi Wan Kenobi approaching Luke, his young Padawan, on Tatoine.] Wanting to set the young monk straight, the enlightened one [or Obi Wan] said:
“From inappropriate attention you’re being chewed by your thoughts.
Relinquishing what’s inappropriate, contemplate appropriately.”
Contemplate appropriately?! Those Buddhist teachings make so much sense! Thinking inappropriate thoughts? Contemplate appropriately. Worrying obsessively while playing Tetris? Become aware of the neurotic worry and release or replace it.
A similar thought goes:
“The eternal law of life is: What you think and feel you bring into form; Where your thought is … there you are. For you are your consciousness; And what you meditate upon, you become.”
-St. Germain
The. Eternal. Law. of. Life. I can’t really argue with that.
Worries are Opportunities turned Inside Out
My intention for this weekend is to replace the neurotic worries with assumptions that things are as I want them to be:
- Scary economy becomes an opportunity to focus on what’s important in life.
- Weight worries become an opportunity to be grateful for my health.
- Feelings hurt three months ago becomes an opportunity to practice forgiveness and appreciate good friends.
What are you worried about and how can you turn that useless chatter into an opportunity? Definitely something to keep in mind this weekend. Now, about that Tetris game….
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Inspiring and well written. Thank you. lb
I have to make a conscious effort all the time to keep the chatter down in my head. I find that exercise works well in my case. Music helps too.
Excellent post!
Really good article. I carry some of those “3 months ago” insults with me.