(Excessive Thinking) Outside reading I
"Not to be able to stop thinking is a dreadful affliction, but we don't realize this because almost everybody is suffering from it, so it is considered normal."(14). What Eckhart is getting to here is the phenomenon for us to actually have trouble preventing our mind from racing. After practicing meditation for a couple years now I understand this dilemma first hand and still on occasion have trouble clearing my mind. The fact that he also mentions about this problem being overlooked on a grand scale also has big implications on how agitated and uptight our society will interact.
(Freeing the Mind) Outside reading II
"The beginning of freedom is the realization that you are not the possessing entity- the thinker. Knowing this enables you to observe the entity. The moment you start to watch the thinker, a higher level of consciousness becomes active" (17). When I first read this quote I had to reread it a couple of times to fully grasp what was meant. I was surprised to hear that this philosopher would argue that I am not in control of my thoughts but that i am the observer to them. After consideration of this I can begin to see his point. When a negative situation happens people naturally get upset at the initial occurrence. I doubt that any one plans on thinking about being upset so in this instance they are just the witnesses to their own anger. Also when meditating and losing concentration the thoughts that arise seemingly come out of nowhere and are definitely unintentional.
(present moment) Outside reading III
"The present moment holds the key to liberation, but you cannot find the present moment as long as you are in your mind"(23). This concept adds on to the idea of taking control of our minds and thoughts but goes a step further towards noticing the present moment that we are always in. Fully incased in the present prevents the mind from wandering. If you are focused on what is in front of you it is really hard to think about the negative things of the past or the worries of the future.
(The Ego) Outside reading IIII
"Identification with the mind, which creates a false self ego, as a substitute for your true self rooted in Being. You become as a branch cut off from the vine as Jesus puts it"(47).
This ego of the mind can be thanked for people poor self assume and depression. Any given situation can be analyzed with the mind but this is often taken to the next level of overanalyzing and worry. To get away from this negativity that the mind so easily created one must think of thought as a tool to be used instead of the one doing the work. When using this tool one can be thrilled at all the possibilities possible but once outside of a problem situation that needs salving excessive thinks seems to only bring headache and worry.
(Time) Outside reading V
"All negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present. Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry- all forms of fear- are caused by to much future. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non forgiveness are caused by too much past."(61). I agree with this statement and live my life by this to a certain degree. In faith one can avoid these causes for fear and pain through a stoic view of a good world misunderstood. Thinking about the past and future cause stress because we are wanting our minds to take us there when that is an impossible feat. Instead we do the next best think which is not good at all which is to dwell on those times outside the moment. Since our knowledge of the past is based on memory and the future based on assumptions it is hard to actually tell what events will turn out to be good or bad years from now so the need to worry about them is low since the main thins needed to be happy in the present is simply to be focused on their in the first place.
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