Originally Posted by
NonDualistic
Howie, this had me contemplating all afternoon while at work.
I have written pages of material , letters to editors of local papers, and much of a 40-50 pages of "dharma" writing or notes, using much the same idea or method you outline above.
What I usually end up doing is writing and then going back and just "cleaning up" what was written. Sometimes I feel astonished at what I wrote, as if it were someone elses work I was reading. I havnt written much in the last few months, been preoccupied with other things.
Today, prompted by this thread of yours, I watched my mind all afternoon. Looked to see what arose and where it came from. Seems when I clear my mind in meditation, its not so much cleaint the mind as it is letting go of it, hence no thoughts arise.
Then I noticed that If I engage the mind and meditate on an opening
thought, that is when more arises on/from the mind.
I also noticed that when the opening thought is of a memory, or placed on some future context, its as if the flood gates open and all sorts of thoughts arise. Mostly memories and then variations off of them. Its like getting lost in a maze to follow them. Getting out means disengaging the mind and returning
to the awareness of the moment. Ones breathing, or what is seen around oneself. Very interesting and valuable observations. Much to explore here.
I have more to say, but need to dwell on it some more first.....well,
One thing was a question as to whether the thoughts arising are truly random? Even the liittle tid bits that arose in my previous post above, seemed sponsored or primed by a thought of watching to see what thoughts arise.