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*I apologize in advance for any punctuation or spelling mistakes.
Starting from here
P 11-19
From the very beginning the author asks us to compose our minds. Become aware of the here and now, your body, breathe and the mental state you are in . And don't try to change it!
Really don't change it but observe it.
Meditation covers many mental experiences, but the goal is to see them as they are. This is the state of awakened attention.
It is so easy that most don't even notice it.there is nothing to attain.
Relax into the present. If you TRY TOO hard, you start to feel the stress. The idea of awareness of paying attention is not something to be done.
Allow the tensions, pain, sadness,be at this moment, allow the sense of letting go and let life be what it is.
It is in the Western world we have the probes of guilt and shame. We also like challenges. The real challenge is in just being able to integrate awareness into the most ordinary things, all of the mundane realities of life. It is not easy and takes patience.
One way to maintain awareness is to have a sense of humility and simplicity.
Mindfulness, awareness, meditation is through this moment. This simple act of attention this reading, openness and receptivity will bring a sense of relief
Beginning to Sense the Unborn
P19-31
Chapter 2 begins with the Four Noble truths.
The truth of suffering
All suffering is the result of craving or desire
The end of craving or desire is the end of suffering
The path which is the end of suffering is 8 fold
*right view
*right thought
*right speech
*right action
*right livelihood
*right effort
*right mindfulness
*right concentrations
The author does emphasize that the way through mindfulness, intuitive attention is about reflection. Not to take to heart.
Beings who are unawakened, meaning they look through life from conditioned experiences. A very dualistic life. Right wrong black white female male
Most often their lives a fraught with suffering
Anyone who suffers is an unawakend being, they are said to sustain an illusion. (ie social media-anyone)
But in fact these are the same people who don't like looking at flowers because they will soon wilt and die! That kind of perceptual wet blanket approach to life that leads to depression.
The word noble is the noble truth refers to a truth to be realized.
In the first noble truth, we know what we love and cherish will inevitably lead to death. Understanding means there is a willingness to suffer, it is a positive sense of trust, a willingness to look at our own sense of despair and loss, but noting that it is : like this.
Second Noble truth is this is the insight to let go of the cause of suffering. Letting go of suffering isn't a rejection out of fear, but through understanding it. It isn't about pushing suffering away but letting it be. BE in the present. BE with the emotions and feelings.BE with it.
It takes a certain amount of trust in yourself to bear with suffering, pain, misfortune and all disappointments of life.
Don't become interested in comparing or analyzing.
What if you could stop thinking and observe? Coil you find a “sound of silence” Can you not manipulate your thoughts. Can you notice it?
Buddha, which means awakened one, not a person's name, is a person that knows something, just by KNOWING it.
Unconscious is often meaning not thinking or not being awake when it means looking at something in a particular t form
In order to apricot this Second Noble truth we have to awaken to it. We might know we are suffering, we blame it on GOD or others or yourself.
Start to begin to realize that liberation and the end of suffering is letting go.
Beyond the ego
P33-43
There is a difference between the words “ awareness and “ consciousness” . We can be conscious and not aware. In fact we can be conscious and deluded- we are learning to let go of the distortions or delusions that we experience.
The Four noble truths are meant to be investigated, practicsed, feeling and recognized for our sleeves. Myself nor the author and not do it for you.
Whatever it is, little irritations and frustrations in the moment are noble truths,- but only if we are willing to look at them in that way.
The idea of awareness or consciousness is to WAKE UP. The point is to be aware and to notice.
The first noble truth is all about accepting or welcoming unsatisfactoriness of suffering, rather than try resisting it.
Trust is important. Too much fear and suspicion in our lives means that most people don't trust themselves.
Trust the ability to listen.
The ego is a mental object. So, when you give the ego power you are employing something that doesn't have any wisdom.
So your experiences are always distorted and you will suffer as a result.
Notice the difference between your personality , the subject of your experience, or being the subject ( your awareness).
Listen without judging.
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