Are You the Master or Servant of your Mind?

in #life6 years ago

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Dear steemians Greetings from a corner of the globe,
How many times have we heard “control your anger”, “be fearless”, “worrying doesn’t help”, “don’t be greedy” or “be grateful and don’t complain” and so on? Quite often we hear these as our own inner voice or we hear them from others, right? Yet, many struggle to keep the peace or be brave or generous particularly in adverse situation.

Although we know intellectually it’s good to be kind, compassionate and joyful, why they remain difficult for many (specially when things don’t go their way)? As SN Goenka puts it “Everyone sings a happy song when everything is well and sound but a man is a real man who smiles even when everything goes dead wrong.”

There are many different techniques such as neurolingustic programming, reflective practice, laws of attractions, contemplation and verbalization etc. which may help improve our control over our mind. The root cause of why the mind have control over many is worth exploring. Buddha explains the four parts of mind - vinanna or cognizing part just observe things as they are without judgement and particularly predominant in childhood - some say they make children so happy and joyful. But as we grow old the cognizing parts weakens and 2nd (recognizing), 3rd (judging/evaluating) and 4th (shankhara or reactive) part becomes stronger partly due to the social conditioning, social learning etc. And thus as soon as people experience something via their 5 senses the judgement starts immediately. For example, you see someone or hear something judgement starts immediately and if it is something to your liking (through social conditioning, past experiences etc.) the mind (stronger reactive part) react with craving for the experience but if it is to your disliking then 4th part of you mind reacts with aversion. And this way the reactive part becomes stronger and stronger by generating reactive (cravings or aversion) pattern. Thus we crave for pleasant experiences & have aversion toward unpleasant experiences (as judged by our own mind) within these 5 sense doors. This leads to road rage where seemingly a nice gentle man or woman is taken over by the rage or happy honeymoon end up in painful divorce or best friends become worst enemy and so on.

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But how can we learn to master ourselves? We can control ourself somewhat (or on surface) by many different technique but the significant control of the mind is no easy task and require ardent, dilligent & persistent practice with wisdom. Over 2500years ago Buddha gave us a revolutionary technique which goes to the depth of the mind to take back control of our mind & enjoy the natural state of joy and bliss. And observing (being aware) breath is one of the starting point. Let’s try for one minute - close your eyes, sit comfortably and focus your entire attention on the nostril (while eyes closed) and for next one minute just try to observe the breath as it goes in and as it comes out - see how long you can control your mind to do this one thing. Are you the master or the servant of the mind?

I hope to go into more details in next post. If you think this post is useful, interesting or helpful please upvote, reesteem as you see fit. Also would be quite insightful to have your thoughts on comments section below.

Thank you @steemitboard @luppers @chbartist @partiko and many others 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 🧘🏼‍♂️🧘🏼‍♂️🧘🏼‍♂️

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A very thoughtful and well written post! I trained as a psychiatric nurse, and hypnotherapist (including NLP techniques) so this was right up my street! Well done. Followed, upvoted and resteemed! Have a lovely day!

Posted using Partiko Android

Thanks @felt.buzz - we have created a space on Discord for meditators... and would love you to to join 🧘🏼‍♂️🧘🏼‍♀️
https://discord.gg/bjGe7k
Let’s grow together in wisdom!

Posted using Partiko iOS

Thank you so much for the offer. Unfortunately, I am really busy at the moment, and wouldn't be able to put in the time. Maybe in the future?

Posted using Partiko Android

No worries @felt.buzz I do understand. 🙏🏼

Posted using Partiko iOS

Love this! Resteeming in hopes that more people can see this and also become the master of their minds. I'm known to be both, remembering to breathe when I need is sometimes tricky lol.

Thank you @foxyspirit - we have created a space on Discord for meditators... and would love you to to join 🧘🏼‍♂️🧘🏼‍♀️
https://discord.gg/bjGe7k
More detailed post is
https://partiko.app/@naturalmedicine/introducing-mindful-life-uniting-meditators-across-steem-all-welcome-plus-steem-bounty?referrer=bewithbreath
Let’s grow together in wisdom!

Posted using Partiko iOS

Oh I haven't been too successful with meditating. I wish I was better with it but there also isn't a quiet moment for me to take it on, without falling asleep that it. I will have a look at it though to see more about the details ^_^

Yes, it can be hard to find time and also dificult to quieten the mind. With practice mind can certainly be tamed. So we plan to support people practicing meditation virtually. If it’s not the right time, feel free to check & join “Mindful Life” in the future @foxyspirit 🧘🏼‍♂️🧘🏼‍♀️

Posted using Partiko iOS

I have the post in my tabs ready for me to have a look at it when I have the chance :) Thank you :)

Hello be with breath and welcome to Steemit,
You are a Steemian now! And been online and blogging for a few weeks now. Better late than never, and I'm sure one day we will say those were the very early days of Steemit, so congrats! Whats essential here is regular posting off good quality blogs.
So start writing ! Tell us about your life, passion, animals or your work.
That Will attract possible followers.
Do be carefull with your passwords, they are yours and yours only.
Look up the free Steemify app in the Appstore or read this blog https://steemit.com/busy/@exyle/using-steemify-to-stay-up-to-date-about-the-blockchain-like-project-destiny-please-consider-blockbrothers-for-your-witness-vote Thats helpfull too.
Next to Steemify I use Appics to post.
You can also visit our discord server The Steem Terminal is your one-stop location for learning about destinations on the Steem Blockchain & Discord. Here you will find people who are willing to answer the questions you may have as a new Steemian, documents to assist you, a place to learn and practice, and find out about the many opportunities to connect with other Steemians!
Or visit the @heyhaveyamet account( a coop with @xcountytravelers ) where we highlight newcomers.

Hope this helps for now. Good luck, and Full Steem Ahead! Let me know if you have questions,

Love from the Netherlands
Britt

Very insightful post. Being “aware” of the present moment is probably another point to bring up. You speak of pleasant and unpleasant experiences and how people tend to judge immediately rather than understand and “observe” why what is happening to them is happening; versus judging immediately. Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now,” speaks volumes to the awareness of the present moment and being aware of the ego - the judgement device that tends to control us if we allow it.

Thank you for sharing...

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Thank You @steelborne... Yes, amazing book “The Power of Now” is. I also loved his “New Earth”. And agree, being in the “NOW” is simple yet profound step when most minds run after future or dwell in the past. I also recently read one of his quote “Ego can’t stay once you know ego is there” ..... I was going to bring up living in the now in next post as a part of breath meditation. But thank you 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼for your valuable comment - upvoted and followed you up. Always nice to meet people with similar frequency (or like minded people).
Present moment awareness - Be in the now - @bewithbreath 🧘🏼‍♂️🧘🏼‍♂️🧘🏼‍♂️

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Hi @steelborne we have created a space on Discord for meditators... and would love you to to join 🧘🏼‍♂️🧘🏼‍♀️
https://discord.gg/bjGe7k
More detailed post is
https://partiko.app/@naturalmedicine/introducing-mindful-life-uniting-meditators-across-steem-all-welcome-plus-steem-bounty?referrer=bewithbreath
Let’s grow together in wisdom!

Posted using Partiko iOS

I’ll be there. Thanks for the invite. Would love to join and contribute with you! You’ll be seeing me soon...

Posted using Partiko iOS

👍🏼 look forward to seeing you there at “Mindful Life” @steelborne 🧘🏼‍♂️🧘🏼‍♀️

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Congratulations @bewithbreath!
Your post was mentioned in the Steem Hit Parade for newcomers in the following category:

  • Upvotes - Ranked 8 with 384 upvotes

I also upvoted your post to increase its reward
If you like my work to promote newcomers and give them more visibility on the Steem blockchain, consider to vote for my witness!