"Oh no, not another parking ticket!" I cried out to my girlfriend after realizing I parked on the wrong side of the street. What happens next? Thoughts, feelings and physical sensations rush through my body, dreaming up scenarios of how I'm going to fight it and what I need to do to win. Like playing a violin (which I don't), thoughts and emotions play musical notes on my body.Well here is a great lesson that I learned a long time ago in my practice: you do not need to go far in order to meditate on mental phenomena like clinging. Just simply watch the body, its all there!
This article follows my earlier post titled Clinging Is In the Mind, where I described the mental phenomena of clinging and grasping, and why we should meditate on it in order to free our minds and attain greater inner peace.
Identify The Types of Clinging
Four types of clinging pervade the mind per Buddhist philosophy. They are: (1) clinging to sensual objects, (2) clinging to views, (3) clinging to rituals and practices, and (4) clinging to notions of self. I can actually link almost every mind sensation to one or more of these.
Mindfulness of the Body
Every thought and emotion registers a unique vibration in the body. It is both fascinating and awakening to observe. The more you get to know your body, the earlier you can catch a new emotion spring up before it takes control of you.For example when I am under pressure at work and do not understand something, my brain literally begins to shut down. But ever since I started meditating and practicing mindfulness, I can actually better prevent its onset.
When clinging is intense, you can observe physical sensations get stronger. When I have a disagreement with my girlfriend, for example, and am tempted to fight for my view, I get this intense wave-like energy that travels from the back of my throat to the back of my head. It pulsates back and forth in vibrations.
Practicing mindfulness of such sensations is much more productive than getting caught up in the argument and saying something you will regret later on. Believe me =)
Mindfulness of Thoughts
When we really cling to something, thoughts seem to pop up out of nowhere. The mind feels agitated and restless. Thoughts are like bubbles that inflate beneath you. But the bubbles are so large that you don't even know you are on one, until it pops. The more intense the grasping in the mind, the more out of control these bubbles are. They do not let you live in balance or have any peace of mind.
In Conclusion
Try to observe and identify how each type of clinging resonates itself in your body. Practice mindfulness by getting familiar with each one. Can you anticipate an upcoming emotion like this?
My next blog post will discuss how to set up a proper meditation practice, and use your power of observation and mindfulness to look within and find sustainable inner peace.
Best wishes to you my friends,
Yuriy
http://www.meditationcorner.com
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