Guest guest Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 I am a little skeptical of someone who says their mind is always blank and they never have thoughts of past or future. First of all its not true. At the moment she was speaking of herself, she was having thoughts about herself - therefore her mind was not blank at that moment. Second, a person can not function if there are no thoughts of past or future. I mean, you have to know what you are going to do tomorrow and as for thoughts of the past, in the words of one enlightened person, if you get pulled over by a cop, you better be able to produce a driver's license. Look, thinking is a natural function of having a body/mind - just like sleeping and eating. What is un-natural is for thinking to take over, become an addiction. What is natural is for thinking to happen when its required, and to not happen (that is a blank mind) when it is not required. Hope this helps. Greg , CCHt. http://www.TheRealityEngineer.com > > Hi all, > > On the weekend, a friend invited me to a free Tai Chi/Meditation > session at a local Buddhist temple. > > I found the whole experience quite interesting and when the > facilitator (Reverend) spoke to us afterwards, I was pleaseantly > surprised at how much of what she said parallels or supports ACT. > There was particular emphasis placed on staying in the present moment > and connecting your mind & body. > > Afterwards, she spoke to us personally and mentioned how she has > reached a stage where her mind is always " blank " . She went on to > explain that she now only lives in the present moment and thoughts > about yesterday or tomorrow, or what's coming up in the next hour do > not cross her mind. > > What I'm wondering is, does this kind of blank mind state have a > place in ACT. Has anyone actually achieved it, and would we all be > better off if no extraneous thoughts entered our mind? > > For me, it sounds a little counter productive I'm wondering if it > could actually inhibit the modern lifestyle. ie. Surely we need to > consider the future & past occasionally? Or perhaps everything just > falls into place when you're present. > > Anyway, I'm curious to hear what everyone's thoughts are on this > concept. > > Adam > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 Maybe by blank she meant she is not all caught up in her thoughts? How would she keep appointments? I can't imagine a mind being blank, either, unless you're dead. Even people who are unconscious for awhile report that they had been dreaming after they wake up. Does this person dream, or is her mind blank at night, too? I can't help but think she misused the word or meant something different by it. Helena Re: A Blank Mind I am a little skeptical of someone who says their mind is always blankand they never have thoughts of past or future. First of all its nottrue. At the moment she was speaking of herself, she was havingthoughts about herself - therefore her mind was not blank at thatmoment. Second, a person can not function if there are no thoughts ofpast or future. I mean, you have to know what you are going to dotomorrow and as for thoughts of the past, in the words of oneenlightened person, if you get pulled over by a cop, you better beable to produce a driver's license.Look, thinking is a natural function of having a body/mind - just likesleeping and eating. What is un-natural is for thinking to take over,become an addiction. What is natural is for thinking to happen whenits required, and to not happen (that is a blank mind) when it is notrequired.Hope this helps.Greg , CCHt.http://www.TheRealityEngineer.com--- In ACT_for_the_Public , "adamjamesbell" wrote:>> Hi all,> > On the weekend, a friend invited me to a free Tai Chi/Meditation > session at a local Buddhist temple.> > I found the whole experience quite interesting and when the > facilitator (Reverend) spoke to us afterwards, I was pleaseantly > surprised at how much of what she said parallels or supports ACT. > There was particular emphasis placed on staying in the present moment > and connecting your mind & body. > > Afterwards, she spoke to us personally and mentioned how she has > reached a stage where her mind is always "blank". She went on to > explain that she now only lives in the present moment and thoughts > about yesterday or tomorrow, or what's coming up in the next hour do > not cross her mind. > > What I'm wondering is, does this kind of blank mind state have a > place in ACT. Has anyone actually achieved it, and would we all be > better off if no extraneous thoughts entered our mind? > > For me, it sounds a little counter productive I'm wondering if it > could actually inhibit the modern lifestyle. ie. Surely we need to > consider the future & past occasionally? Or perhaps everything just > falls into place when you're present.> > Anyway, I'm curious to hear what everyone's thoughts are on this > concept. > > Adam> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 This reminds me of Eckhart Tolles book 'The Power of Now', where he says that he only uses memories of the past or thoughts about the future when is neccesary. Hinting that he spends all of his time in the present. Apparently he had some great spiritual awakening. My mind is always skeptical of these things but who knows? > > Hi all, > > On the weekend, a friend invited me to a free Tai Chi/Meditation > session at a local Buddhist temple. > > I found the whole experience quite interesting and when the > facilitator (Reverend) spoke to us afterwards, I was pleaseantly > surprised at how much of what she said parallels or supports ACT. > There was particular emphasis placed on staying in the present moment > and connecting your mind & body. > > Afterwards, she spoke to us personally and mentioned how she has > reached a stage where her mind is always " blank " . She went on to > explain that she now only lives in the present moment and thoughts > about yesterday or tomorrow, or what's coming up in the next hour do > not cross her mind. > > What I'm wondering is, does this kind of blank mind state have a > place in ACT. Has anyone actually achieved it, and would we all be > better off if no extraneous thoughts entered our mind? > > For me, it sounds a little counter productive I'm wondering if it > could actually inhibit the modern lifestyle. ie. Surely we need to > consider the future & past occasionally? Or perhaps everything just > falls into place when you're present. > > Anyway, I'm curious to hear what everyone's thoughts are on this > concept. > > Adam > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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