Guest guest Posted March 18, 2006 Report Posted March 18, 2006 Hi Markus, See if you can gently put that entire thought on a leaf as well. Yes, that thought may require a bigger leaf. Though they can get stuck on rocks and twigs at times, big leaves float down stream too. J All the best, Noel From: ACT_for_the_Public [mailto:ACT_for_the_Public ] On Behalf Of mbrational Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2006 9:19 AM To: ACT_for_the_Public Subject: Leaves on a Stream Hello all, I have a question regarding the " Leaves On A Stream " exercise. I understand that I should write occuring thoughts on a leaf and watch them float away down stream. But what if I just begin to watch a thought on a leaf and immediately another thought comes up? Should I immediately write the new thought on a new leaf and watch the new thought floating away (and forget about the old leaf/thought or should I keep on watching the old thought/leaf floating away and only then remember the second thought, write it on a new leaf etc.? Thanks, Markus. Quote
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2006 Report Posted March 18, 2006 Markus, When I first started this it seemed like there weren't enough trees in the world to for all the leaves I needed. Once leaf leaves and then you start wondering about if you should wait or put out another, do you realise that is also a thought and should float down the stream with the other. The purpose of the exercise it to watch your thoughts, all of them. I don't think it matters how far they go. My stream is always pretty short, because it always flows back into my head. My thoughts don't leave, I just practice watching them for what they are. Greg > > Hello all, > > I have a question regarding the " Leaves On A Stream " exercise. I > understand that I should write occuring thoughts on a leaf and watch > them float away down stream. > But what if I just begin to watch a thought on a leaf and immediately > another thought comes up? Should I immediately write the new thought on > a new leaf and watch the new thought floating away (and forget about > the old leaf/thought or should I keep on watching the old thought/leaf > floating away and only then remember the second thought, write it on a > new leaf etc.? > > Thanks, Markus. > Quote
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2006 Report Posted March 18, 2006 Here's an example of how I worked with the leaves on a stream recently ... I was sitting on the floor (ok, on the grass next to the water in my mind's eye) visuallizing the rambling brook in front of me gently flowing from my left to my right and on into the horizon. Then I got this itch (body sensation) ... one of those prickly itches right inside your ear that SCREAMS scratch it! So instead of acting on the scratch urge, I just noticed this fuzzy caterpillar crawling on top of a leaf that was floating down stream. I tend to be visual rather than seeing actual 'words' written down (those who read my posts know that spelling is not one of my strong suits.) So I just notice this itch (watch the caterpillar crawling around on the leaf as it gently flows down stream.) Then the itch became even more intense ... and I visualized a new leaf approaching that had FOUR caterpillars crawling around. And I would watch that leaf and then notice again that the itch changed. Eventually, there was only a tiny ant crawling around on a leaf as it was headed downstream. Then new leaves came with new images, and after awhile I noticed the itch was gone completly. Empty leaf floating by ... One of the most powerful things for me about Zazen (or watching mining cars, or leaves) is being witness to the fact that everything changes -- even without any action on my part. (not scratching the itch) Whether there are many different leaves, or few leaves, with many unique contents or variations on a similar theme .... the water carries them all. Isn't that cool? EM Quote
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2006 Report Posted March 18, 2006 Markus, I employ this exercise every day and find it very useful generally. Some days though I seem to have trouble not buying the thoughts as I put them on the leaves/soldiers. This seems to be related to how well I can visualise the stream/parade. I find that if you focus too much on visualizing a particular thought, you end up buying it and the thought becomes important. I find it's best to view the parade/stream from a great distance so you can see just how many soldiers/leaves there are. This helps me to de-emphasise a troublesome thought as I can clearly " see " that it's one of thousands of thoughts I will have that day. Another technique I find very useful is perhaps what you could call a meta observer =o] I picture someone fictional (e.g. an old woman) watching the parade/stream. They watch the thoughts with an impassive fascination, making a few remarks now and again - as you probably would if you could literally see someone else's thoughts! I find this very powerful when I have trouble not buying thoughts. Maybe give this a go, see if it helps. Cheers, Pete > > Hello all, > > I have a question regarding the " Leaves On A Stream " exercise. I > understand that I should write occuring thoughts on a leaf and watch > them float away down stream. > But what if I just begin to watch a thought on a leaf and immediately > another thought comes up? Should I immediately write the new thought on > a new leaf and watch the new thought floating away (and forget about > the old leaf/thought or should I keep on watching the old thought/leaf > floating away and only then remember the second thought, write it on a > new leaf etc.? > > Thanks, Markus. > Quote
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