Mindfulness Quote of the Day

"Why is 'being' harder than 'doing'?"

Submitted by Jonathan Kaplan, Ph.D.

While doing some long stretches of meditation last week, my mind had ample time to roam and resist the simple instruction to focus on the breath.  At one point, feeling particularly ragged, I noticed this particular question had arisen.  Though tempting, I resisted my inclination to answer it and briefly admired the trickster quality of such thinking.  It was an open invitation to ruminate--and take myself further from mindful attention on my breathing--in the guise of analyzing mindfulness.  What sneaky brains we have!  Rather than devoting more time on the cushion to consider this question, I acknowledged its emergence and my resultant admiration, then returned my attention to the breath.  Afterwards, a shimmer of pride and a quirky smile came to my face as I congratulated myself on not falling into this "thought trap."  Whoops!  That was more thinking, too.  Rats.  Oh, well.  Back to the breath...

Comments

[jennifer]

thanks jonathan for these reminders. it always amazes me how we have to learn the same lesson over and over and over and over......