I am originally from India. I am settled in United States since 1969. I love mathematics, philosophy and clarity in thinking.
Mindfulness provides the discipline for looking and contemplation.
You may do this exercise while sipping coffee in a café, or strolling along a river. You may even find a place where you can sit comfortably for a while without being disturbed. Then patiently observe the world go by.
If something does not make sense, then recognize that it does not make sense. Do not try to justify it. Justification simply puts the blame somewhere without resolving the inconsistency. When you are faced with an inconsistency, and you feel an impulse to explain it away, then be alert to what you might be taking for granted. At times it may take some out-of-the-box thinking to realize what is going on.
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MINDFULNESS 4: If something does not make sense then do not explain it away.
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Observe as usual. Notice the environment and the people in it.
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Start applying the aspects of mindfulness that you have learned so far.
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As you observe, see if there is something that does not make sense.
Example: Some people literally view God as a person who has created this universe. However, a person has a form that occupies space. That form and space of a person are also things that are created as part of the universe. So, God cannot be a person and also the creator of the universe. Reference: A Lovely Discussion on God
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Recognize it as an inconsistency; do not pretend that you understand it.
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If there is an impulse to explain it away then recognize that too.
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Look more closely and isolate exactly what it is that you do not understand.
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If it is an idea or concept then look it up in a dictionary, encyclopedia, or on Internet.
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If it is some contradiction or inconsistency, then check your assumptions. Be alert to what you might be taking for granted. Verify any assumptions.
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If it is a failure in life, then check if there is blame being placed somewhere. Blame pretends to be an answer, but it does not provide solution. Ignore all attempts at blame.
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If it is an unwanted condition, then check for explanations that are being used. Ignore all explanations that have not led to resolution in the past.
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Simply observe around what does not makes sense without explaining it away, until it starts to resolve.
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Expand your span of attention and let the perceptions pour in.
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Let the realizations present themselves to you without you making any effort.
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Use your own judgment as to when to end a session.
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Develop this exercise to a point where you may execute it even while interacting socially with others. Keep observing patiently without explaining things away and things will start to fall in place. Many things may come up naturally to be scrutinized. Simply observe and become aware of them without effort.
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Mindfulness provides the discipline for looking and contemplation.
You may do this exercise while sipping coffee in a café, or strolling along a river. You may even find a place where you can sit comfortably for a while without being disturbed. Then patiently observe the world go by.
If something is missing then recognize that it is missing. Do not imagine something in its place. If someone asks you a question and no answer comes up in your mind, then do not feel obliged to make up an answer. Continue to look around that area where something seems to be missing. Maybe something interesting will come up, maybe not.
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MINDFULNESS 3: If something is missing do not imagine something else in its place.
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Observe as usual. Notice the environment and the people in it.
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Start applying the aspects of mindfulness that you have learned so far.
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Notice something that is puzzling, and about which full understanding is missing.
Note: If nothing puzzling comes up then make a list of people you know and locations you are familiar with. Look at the responses that come up in the mind to items on this list. Something puzzling may come to notice.
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Do not feel obliged to accept the explanations given; instead focus on what is puzzling.
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Carefully consider the broad context of the scene, and the purpose of the activity.
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Notice all those things that do not seem to be consistent and coherent.
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Closely examine each one of them, and also your viewpoint with respect to them.
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Do not imagine reasons to fill the uncomfortable gap. Instead continue to observe in and around the area. Maybe something interesting will come up to make it clear, or maybe not.
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Notice questions you have for which “answers” are missing, or which do not make sense.
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Notice the impulse to come up with an answer. If there is no answer then acknowledge the fact. Do not make up an answer.
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Look at the question in a broader context and continue looking at the areas around it. Maybe the answer will present itself, maybe not.
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Expand your span of attention and let the perceptions pour in.
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Let the realizations present themselves to you without you making any effort.
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Use your own judgment as to when to end a session.
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Develop this exercise to a point where you are doing it naturally even while interacting socially with others. Keep observing patiently following up on what is inconsistent and incoherent until things start to fall in place. Many things may come up naturally to be scrutinized. Simply observe and become aware of them without effort.
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Mindfulness provides the discipline for looking and contemplation.
You may do this exercise while sipping coffee in a café, or strolling along a river. You may even find a place where you can sit comfortably for a while without being disturbed. Then patiently observe the world go by.
As you look do not assume anything. It is easy to assume what one normally expects to be there. For example, if you are looking at the profile of a person, you see only one ear, but you may take it for granted that the person has two ears. Separate the actual perception from the ideas of what should be there.
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MINDFULNESS 2: Observe things as they are, without assuming anything.
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Observe as usual. Notice the environment and other people.
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Start applying the aspects of mindfulness that you have learned so far.
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As you observe, see if there are any assumptions that are hanging around. Spot them as they come up.
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Don’t suppress them. Simply become aware of them, and then move on.
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As you observe, see if the actual perceptions are different from the ideas in the mind. Notice such differences one by one.
Example: You are looking at the profile of a person. You see only one ear. The mind tells you that he is supposed to have two ears. Notice that you cannot verify what the mind is telling you. Taking for granted that the person has two ears, would be an assumption.
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Don’t suppress them. Simply become aware of them, and then move on.
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As you observe, see if you are being judgmental about some situation. Notice any preconceived ideas present one by one.
Example: You may look at a person of certain sex, color, profession or cultural background with certain preconceived ideas. Separate the actual perception from the ideas contained in the mind.
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Don’t suppress them. Simply become aware of them, and then move on.
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As you observe, see if there is something that does not make sense. Notice if your own ideas are contributing to that inconsistency.
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Don’t suppress them. Simply become aware of them, and then move on.
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Expand your span of attention and let the perceptions pour in.
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Let the realizations present themselves to you without you making any effort.
-
Use your own judgment as to when to end a session.
.
Develop this exercise to a point where you are doing it naturally even while interacting socially with others. Keep observing patiently without assuming anything. Keep actual perception separate from the ideas contained in your mind. Many things may come up naturally to be scrutinized. Simply observe them and become aware of them without effort.
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