tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post2961509931128578608..comments2024-02-06T22:19:13.028-08:00Comments on Mining Aśvaghoṣa's Gold: SAUNDARANANDA 15.64: For the Giving Up of These IdeasMike Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12712396374023835678noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-9702132837296818272009-12-30T10:11:40.469-08:002009-12-30T10:11:40.469-08:00Mike,
Thanks for the invite. I think I'll ta...Mike,<br /><br />Thanks for the invite. I think I'll take you up on it.gnizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18043750358888135458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-54943365697284505512009-12-30T09:57:08.669-08:002009-12-30T09:57:08.669-08:00My practice is just sitting.
Who do you think you...My practice is just sitting.<br /><br />Who do you think you are to tell me what my practice is based around? <br /><br />I cordially invite you to concentrate on your own breathing.Mike Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712396374023835678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-30296260381804891432009-12-30T08:31:09.199-08:002009-12-30T08:31:09.199-08:00Mike, you said: "Breathing is a secondary iss...Mike, you said: "Breathing is a secondary issue. To sit as the giving up of one's own ideas is the primary thing."<br /><br />Depends on how you read the passage.<br /><br />I read it as saying, if you are continuously mindful of your breathing, these silly ideas floating around in your head will be given up, as a natural side effect. You might still have the thoughts but they won't be taken so seriously. They can be seen through.<br /><br />That's my interpretation and it fits to some extent with my experience.<br /><br />You take it the other way around and say "breathing is secondary" purely because your practice is based around the IDEA of giving up all ideas.<br /><br />I am not saying you are wrong--I believe that you think your way is the only correct way, but it's not. It's just a style that works for you.gnizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18043750358888135458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-20098408417695449602009-12-30T08:19:30.765-08:002009-12-30T08:19:30.765-08:00Hi Aaron,
A take on practice is just an idea to b...Hi Aaron,<br /><br />A take on practice is just an idea to be given up. <br /><br />The teaching here is about giving up ideas. The clue is in the title of the canto -- vitarka-prahaaNa, "Giving Up Ideas." <br /><br />Breathing is a secondary issue. To sit as the giving up of one's own ideas is the primary thing.Mike Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712396374023835678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-87832025208658863332009-12-30T07:44:46.756-08:002009-12-30T07:44:46.756-08:00Hey Mike,
You probably won't like what I have...Hey Mike,<br /><br />You probably won't like what I have to say, given that we have very different takes on practice...but since you're discussing breathing, I couldn't help myself. <br /><br />You say: "I know from experience that if I try to concentrate on my breathing, I can't help interfering."<br /><br />A couple of points here. Firstly, this is probably just due to the amount of time actually spent attempting to concentrate on your breathing. It takes many, many, many hours of breath watching before you can begin to watch without interfering. But I'm fairly certain it's possible to do so, if a long enough time is given over to the practice.<br /><br />Also, I disagree with your premise that interference is necessarily a bad thing. Interference can be a bad thing or it cannot. If you are learning a martial art and the teacher corrects your form, or you make a correction to your form upon noticing some slopiness, this is not a bad thing.<br /><br />However, to continuously over-correct yourself and overthink while in the midst of a sparring session might be problematic.<br /><br />There is a time and a place for everything, no?gnizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18043750358888135458noreply@blogger.com