Dear Readers, I have been wanting to share a post on this subject for a while, because it applies to every one of us, whoever we are and whatever we do. For those of you engaged in the ‘Six week meditation challenge,’ I hope the link I provide to an additional type of meditation, offers something you may like to explore as part of your new habit.
Brilliant David! When I start ruminating about a possible slight hitting me like an imagined (and yes a rather dramatic , I know) dagger , I remember what my Goddess Grandmother taught me…From my youth to the present I say her sweet rhyme…” Bad thoughts go away, Good thoughts are here to stay” …Sometimes I wonder if the negative thoughts have something to teach us until at some point we are able to let them rest…? And when we can do that they seem to come less often.❤️🙏P.S the little monkey touched my soul, so very precious…thinking of her is such a positive…thank you for sharing her sweetness with all of us! 🌹
Great post David - look for the positives- the negatives will find you without you looking.
I have just finished David’s latest novel- The Secret Mantra and it’s a fantastic read. As well as being a great adventure it is has great insights into Buddhism. Strongly recommended
Dear David, what a wonderful piece, your story so beautifully captures our predicament and how to learn to skilfully changes this. Thankyou it was a fun and simple way to learn something vital. I will share this for the benefit of all sentient beings. 🙏💎🪷📿🧘🏻♀️
Aha David - those visiting thoughts and subsequent response of "hugging" and even "holding on". Perhaps simply part of our human experience but one small response that has served me on more than one occasion is - "Ah well, just God acting like Bill I guess". Thank you as always - I'm grateful to always come away with new insights.
Oh my goodness, EXTRAORDINARY lesson in welcoming and accessible prose. You've given me an idea of a talk to give. Wonderful! And sealed by that adorable, delightful photo. Thank you AGAIN for your wise and wonderful words.
Two of the characteristics of your writing that so appeal to me are your authenticity and sense of whimsy. For me, the energy of your writing resonates to that of my first (and favorite) dharma teacher, Pema Chödrön. That compelling blend of authenticity and whimsy, woven throughout all of your writing, is evident in this post especially. My favorite section in this post, given my personal and ancestral history of depression and anxiety, is this, "We are all thought-huggers. Along comes a thought, any thought at all, and we embrace it. The problems with this are two-fold. The first is that the only way a thought can remain in our consciousness is if we engage with it. Shelley’s compliment remained in my mind only an instant because I gave it no attention. But I gave Bill’s barbed remark a lot of attention. Not only that, as is the habit with thinking, one negative idea – there was something wrong with my haircut – quickly gave rise to others. There was something wrong with Bill’s hair. And with the clothes he wore. And his attitude to money. An entire network of negativity catalysed in just moments. Negative thoughts lead to negative feelings, and it’s easy to see how in no time at all the emotional weight of all that negative cognition starts taking its toll." Thank you as always for the insights you share for the benefit of all sentient beings. 💜🙏🏻🧘🏻♀️
Thank you for your latest post David. I must start to politely, buy firmly, ask negative thoughts to leave and to welcome positive feelings. Thank you for the photo of the kittens and monkeys too.
A wonderful and thought- provoking post as usual, from you, David. I love the analogy of “guests”. How true! But we are in charge of the home place, if we only would accept and respect and acknowledge that when these unsavory “visitors” come to invade our fortress, we have the power at hand to acknowledge them and then send the on their merry way. Certainly not an easy task, but with practice, a doable one. Thanks for your support and for reminding us of how truly capable we all are!
Really appreciate this post! One to read over and over. Empowering to realize we can be in charge of our thoughts with a little effort and discipline. Thank you
David! This resonated so strongly with me yesterday.....I had my daily walk with my good friend and she was...."spikey".....! When I said anything she was negative and critical about what I'd said and it unsettled me so much I couldn't sleep after 2am, chewing over what I remembered of what she said and trying to remember other instances....
This morning I read this article again and listened to your Mind watching Mind and Gratitude Meditations and have settled my mind down again, replacing the thoughts that were popping up with, "may I help my friend be happy and free from suffering".
Your gentle wisdom helps me so much! And I am charmed that my 28 year old son applies some of HHC's gentle wisdom to his life too after reading the Dalai Lama's Cat. I am so grateful!
Brilliant David! When I start ruminating about a possible slight hitting me like an imagined (and yes a rather dramatic , I know) dagger , I remember what my Goddess Grandmother taught me…From my youth to the present I say her sweet rhyme…” Bad thoughts go away, Good thoughts are here to stay” …Sometimes I wonder if the negative thoughts have something to teach us until at some point we are able to let them rest…? And when we can do that they seem to come less often.❤️🙏P.S the little monkey touched my soul, so very precious…thinking of her is such a positive…thank you for sharing her sweetness with all of us! 🌹
Great post David - look for the positives- the negatives will find you without you looking.
I have just finished David’s latest novel- The Secret Mantra and it’s a fantastic read. As well as being a great adventure it is has great insights into Buddhism. Strongly recommended
Dear David, what a wonderful piece, your story so beautifully captures our predicament and how to learn to skilfully changes this. Thankyou it was a fun and simple way to learn something vital. I will share this for the benefit of all sentient beings. 🙏💎🪷📿🧘🏻♀️
Aha David - those visiting thoughts and subsequent response of "hugging" and even "holding on". Perhaps simply part of our human experience but one small response that has served me on more than one occasion is - "Ah well, just God acting like Bill I guess". Thank you as always - I'm grateful to always come away with new insights.
Guilty.
Thank you for the guideposts away from it.
Dear Davide, thank you very much for your post!
Oh my goodness, EXTRAORDINARY lesson in welcoming and accessible prose. You've given me an idea of a talk to give. Wonderful! And sealed by that adorable, delightful photo. Thank you AGAIN for your wise and wonderful words.
Two of the characteristics of your writing that so appeal to me are your authenticity and sense of whimsy. For me, the energy of your writing resonates to that of my first (and favorite) dharma teacher, Pema Chödrön. That compelling blend of authenticity and whimsy, woven throughout all of your writing, is evident in this post especially. My favorite section in this post, given my personal and ancestral history of depression and anxiety, is this, "We are all thought-huggers. Along comes a thought, any thought at all, and we embrace it. The problems with this are two-fold. The first is that the only way a thought can remain in our consciousness is if we engage with it. Shelley’s compliment remained in my mind only an instant because I gave it no attention. But I gave Bill’s barbed remark a lot of attention. Not only that, as is the habit with thinking, one negative idea – there was something wrong with my haircut – quickly gave rise to others. There was something wrong with Bill’s hair. And with the clothes he wore. And his attitude to money. An entire network of negativity catalysed in just moments. Negative thoughts lead to negative feelings, and it’s easy to see how in no time at all the emotional weight of all that negative cognition starts taking its toll." Thank you as always for the insights you share for the benefit of all sentient beings. 💜🙏🏻🧘🏻♀️
Thank you for your latest post David. I must start to politely, buy firmly, ask negative thoughts to leave and to welcome positive feelings. Thank you for the photo of the kittens and monkeys too.
A wonderful and thought- provoking post as usual, from you, David. I love the analogy of “guests”. How true! But we are in charge of the home place, if we only would accept and respect and acknowledge that when these unsavory “visitors” come to invade our fortress, we have the power at hand to acknowledge them and then send the on their merry way. Certainly not an easy task, but with practice, a doable one. Thanks for your support and for reminding us of how truly capable we all are!
So true! Thank you for sharing the touching photo of the cats and monkeys. 🌺
Really appreciate this post! One to read over and over. Empowering to realize we can be in charge of our thoughts with a little effort and discipline. Thank you
Oh and thanks for the lovely picture- a real positive
And I agree. That photo was really sweet 🤗
Thought huggers! I like that - I am an expert :-)
Love the photo - aren’t baby creatures adorable? Glad to help. 👍👍
David! This resonated so strongly with me yesterday.....I had my daily walk with my good friend and she was...."spikey".....! When I said anything she was negative and critical about what I'd said and it unsettled me so much I couldn't sleep after 2am, chewing over what I remembered of what she said and trying to remember other instances....
This morning I read this article again and listened to your Mind watching Mind and Gratitude Meditations and have settled my mind down again, replacing the thoughts that were popping up with, "may I help my friend be happy and free from suffering".
Your gentle wisdom helps me so much! And I am charmed that my 28 year old son applies some of HHC's gentle wisdom to his life too after reading the Dalai Lama's Cat. I am so grateful!
😊 😊 😊