Posts: 1701
From: Calm Blue Ocean, Calm Blue Ocean
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 12, 2006 04:31 PM         

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I believe one of the greatest abilites of humans is the ability to change and apply our focus how we wish. On a spiritual level, mastery of this skill can be profoundly transforming, as it can allow us to put our energy in the most efficient and beneficial places. Some might say this is a part of free will and part of being human, but to a buddhist it is one of the most difficult areas to master. Attention is wandering and often leaves our control.

How do you apply your attention? How do you maintain control of it?

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Posts: 1162
From:
Registered: Mar 2006

posted November 12, 2006 05:23 PM         

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BY focus. It is mind over Matter

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The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

~Robert Frost

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Posts: 1701
From: Calm Blue Ocean, Calm Blue Ocean
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 12, 2006 05:47 PM         

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Is it that simple Silver? Just focus?

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Posts: 1162
From:
Registered: Mar 2006

posted November 12, 2006 08:55 PM         

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human beings may be able to exert an observable influence upon the physical world -- simply through the power of conscious intention; or unconscious intention, or; by some accounts, through the assistance of spiritual intelligences; or as a result of synchronicity.

Braude~

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The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

~Robert Frost

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Posts: 1635
From: NC, USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted November 12, 2006 09:06 PM         

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I heard a story once of Ram Dass talking about stray thoughts during meditation ... he said that you should treat them as stray birds landing on the window sill. See them land and flap about then watch them leave. Eventually, they will realize there isn't much interesting to be had on your sill and won't return.
Basically, don't try to fight internally to keep focus ... any time you fight against something within you you only give it more of your own power to keep doing what it's been doing that you want to stop. Just acknowledge those thoughts and go back to thinking or visualizing what you do intend to focus on. The more you do it, the better at it you become.

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"You are not here to try to get the world to be just as you want it to be. You are here to create the world around you that you choose while you allow the world as others choose it to be to exist also." - Esther Hicks

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Posts: 219
From: United States of America
Registered: Nov 2005

posted November 12, 2006 11:30 PM         

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If you don't mind, it won't matter!

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Posts: 273
From:
Registered: Sep 2006

posted November 13, 2006 02:33 AM         

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Concentration

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Posts: 1162
From:
Registered: Mar 2006

posted November 13, 2006 02:51 AM         

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Naiad

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The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

~Robert Frost

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Posts: 1701
From: Calm Blue Ocean, Calm Blue Ocean
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 13, 2006 01:00 PM         

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Wow Naiad it's a whole book! That'll take some time to get through.

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Posts: 7969
From: piopolis, quebec canada
Registered: Jul 2005

posted November 13, 2006 01:14 PM         

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I think of it as being in tuned..focused..ont he energy available..the Universe is always conversing and guiding..through OverSoul=God..

we just have to listen..and focus that energy, that tune..into LOve and Light..for the good of ALL...

that's Magic!

Mind Over Matter
M O M

W O W

O

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Posts: 1701
From: Calm Blue Ocean, Calm Blue Ocean
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 13, 2006 02:15 PM         

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Elearnore I love that analogy of birds landing on a window sill. The most gentle images always work the best, forcing never works.

What's amazing about mindfulness and focus is it's actually the opposite of forcing, it's allowing something to be. A concept very difficult for westerners like (most) of us to grasp!

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Posts: 683
From:
Registered: Mar 2006

posted November 13, 2006 08:05 PM         

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Yeah great parallel.

Personally I feel it takes some time to get there (focus attention) and once there it comes easy. Its like how you put effort to learn tennis and once you know you will pick up the game anytime after a long break.

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