Where is Your Attention? Can You Slow Down Thought Patterns?

Summary

This transcript explores the concept of presence and the impact of attention on mental and emotional states. The speaker contrasts the forward movement of thoughts with the backward movement into being, emphasizing that when attention is focused on being rather than thoughts, we experience a deeper connection to our true nature. By shifting attention to presence, we avoid getting lost in mental activity and experience life more fully. The speaker also highlights the importance of doing from a state of being, where actions flow naturally without the stress of a contracted self or urgent goals.

Takeaways

• 😀 Attention on presence slows down thoughts, fostering a sense of calm and connection to one's true self.
• 😀 Being is a backward movement into relaxation and presence, whereas thoughts pull us into a forward movement of mental activity.
• 😀 Mental activity, when dominant, can lead to a feeling of being lost or disconnected from our fundamental nature.
• 😀 Resting in being allows us to experience life directly, with everything coming alive in the present moment.
• 😀 The experience of presence is about where attention is placed—on being or on thoughts.
• 😀 When attention is on thoughts, we often feel lost, whereas attention on being connects us to our true nature.
• 😀 People often have a false sense of a separate self, looking for presence but getting lost in thoughts.
• 😀 True presence is a constant, but attention can shift towards thoughts, causing us to forget our true nature.
• 😀 The idea of doing should stem from being—doing comes naturally from a relaxed state of presence.
• 😀 When actions are performed from being, there's a sense of relaxation and flow, unlike the urgency felt when driven by mental activity.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the speaker in this transcript?

The main focus is on the concept of presence and how attention can either direct us towards being or towards mental activity (thoughts). The speaker discusses the difference between resting in presence versus getting lost in thoughts.

What does the speaker mean by 'backward movement'?

The 'backward movement' refers to the shift in attention from mental activity towards being or presence. It's a movement inward, towards experiencing the present moment directly, rather than being caught up in thoughts.

How does the speaker describe mental activity?

Mental activity is described as a 'forward movement' in which one follows thoughts. This is contrasted with presence, where thoughts slow down, and attention is focused on being rather than the mental stream.

What is the role of attention in the speaker's perspective?

Attention plays a crucial role in directing our experience. If attention is focused on presence or being, thoughts slow down and we experience the present moment. If attention is on thoughts, we become lost in mental activity.

What does the speaker mean by 'being'?

Being refers to our fundamental true nature, which is the state of simply existing in the present moment. It is a state of awareness and presence without being distracted by mental activity or external tasks.

How does the speaker distinguish between 'doing' and 'being'?

'Doing' is typically associated with external actions driven by a sense of urgency or mental activity. 'Being,' on the other hand, is a state of rest, where actions naturally arise from the state of presence, and there is no stress or contraction associated with it.

What happens when attention is directed towards thoughts, according to the speaker?

When attention is directed towards thoughts, the speaker suggests that we feel lost in them, and our true nature or presence feels obscured. The sense of self becomes identified with the mental stream, leading to stress and disconnection from being.

What is the speaker's view on the idea of a 'separate self'?

The speaker challenges the idea of a 'separate self,' explaining that this sense of separation comes from mental activity and distraction. In reality, we are always connected to our fundamental nature of being.

What does the speaker mean by 'the being is doing'?

'The being is doing' means that actions arise naturally from a state of presence. When one is grounded in being, actions happen from a place of relaxation and awareness, without the stress or urgency typically associated with mental activity.

How does the speaker differentiate between a state of being and a state of stress or urgency?

In a state of being, there is relaxation and a natural flow of actions. In contrast, when we operate from stress or urgency, there is a sense of contraction and mental pressure, leading to feelings of being overwhelmed and disconnected from the present moment.