A state of simplicity

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still-pond

It is completely natural that thoughts keep on arising. The point is not to try to stop them, but to liberate them. This is done by remaining in a state of simplicity, which lets thoughts arise and vanish again without stringing onto them any further thoughts. When you no longer perpetuate the movement of thoughts, they dissolve by themselves without leaving any trace. When you no longer spoil the state of stillness with mental fabrications, you can maintain the natural serenity of mind without any effort. Sometimes, let your thoughts flow and watch the unchanging nature behind them.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

At ease with the energy

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So the intelligent way of working with emotions is to try to relate with their basic substance, the abstract quality of the emotions, so to speak. The basic “isness” quality of the emotions, the fundamental nature of the emotions, is just energy. And if one is able to relate with energy, then the energies have no conflict with you. They become a natural process

Chogyam Trungpa, The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation

Not grasping

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Some things may not be grasped in the moment they are happening. They are  in motion, and thus cannot be fully clear. Things are continually changing, even from minute  to minute. Our main practice is to try to be aware of each breath and each moment, as if it is fresh, without seeing it with preconceived eyes. A second aspect is to say “Don’t know” frequently, and allow events develop, without placing immediate judgmental labels as to whether they are “good” or “bad”
The past mind is unattainable’; the present mind is unattainable; the future mind is unattainable
The Diamond Sutra

A quarter of a million

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http://ingenieriaenlared.files.wordpress.com

Just a short update at the start of the New Year. The Blog received its 250,000 WordPress visitor a few days before Christmas and now is in its fifth year. It has survived a number of changes in style and in blogging platforms, and a recent relocation to Ireland. I try to keep its focus simple – on words or ideas that help mindfulness meditation practice – without getting in the way too much and hope that they may touch one or two readers in the same way as they help me. I just wish to thank all of you who stop by or who read every day and hope that some of the thoughts and quotes are of benefit in your personal growth and in the development of a more conscious life.

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Don’t put names

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Words

We rarely take a breath without making a judgment.

Don’t mistake naming for knowing.

Ezra Bayda, Saying Yes to Life

Part of the path

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Our habitual patterns are, of course, well established, seductive, and comforting. Just wishing for them to be ventilated isn’t enough. Mindfulness and awareness are key. Do we see the stories that we’re telling ourselves and question their validity? When we are distracted by a strong emotion, do we remember that it is part of our path? Can we feel the emotion and breathe it into our hearts for ourselves and everyone else? If we can remember to experiment like this even occasionally, we are training as a warrior. And when we can’t practice when distracted but know that we can’t, we are still training well.

Pema Chodron

photo calle eklund