Freedom from Thought and Excessive Thinking
Summary
TLDRThe transcript discusses the phenomenon of fog and sunshine along the coast, emphasizing the magical interplay of light. It transitions into an insightful exploration of attention and mindfulness, highlighting how external stimuli like phones and internal thoughts often pull our focus away. The speaker advocates for conscious control over where we direct our attention, likening it to a form of meditation. By choosing where to focus, we can practice and strengthen our ability to remain present and intentional, rather than being at the mercy of external and internal distractions.
Takeaways
- π The coexistence of sunshine and fog along the coast can create a magical scene as the fog dissolves and the sun filters through.
- π Attention is a crucial aspect of our experience, and it's often influenced by external factors like noise or electronic devices.
- π± The constant demands of electronic devices, such as phones, can pull our attention away from the present moment, impacting our freedom of choice.
- π€ Thoughts can also demand our attention, pulling us into a conceptual reality that distracts us from the present.
- π§ Scientists have yet to fully understand what thoughts are, despite extensive study of brain chemistry and function.
- π The mind can be directed to focus on different things, such as physical sensations or objects, rather than being pulled by external or internal distractions.
- π It's possible to choose not to give attention to every thought or distraction, thereby maintaining focus on the present moment.
- π Practicing meditation involves directing attention to a specific object or thought, and consciously choosing to redirect it when it wanders.
- π± Meditation is a form of exercise for the mind, strengthening the ability to choose where attention is directed and not being a slave to every thought or distraction.
- π The script emphasizes the importance of being aware of where our attention is focused and the power we have to choose where it goes.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the script?
-The main theme of the script is mindfulness and the ability to control and direct one's attention, especially in the presence of distractions like electronic devices and internal thoughts.
How does the speaker describe the effect of electronic devices on attention?
-The speaker describes electronic devices, like phones, as demanding our attention constantly, pulling us away from the present moment and creating an automatic response to check messages and notifications.
What comparison does the speaker make between electronic devices and other external distractions?
-The speaker compares the distraction of electronic devices to a plate dropping in a restaurant, suggesting that both can instantly pull our attention away, but electronic devices do so more frequently.
Why does the speaker mention the ability to choose where to direct attention?
-The speaker emphasizes the importance of choice in directing attention to demonstrate that people are not at the mercy of external and internal distractions and can consciously decide what to focus on.
What analogy does the speaker use to describe thoughts?
-The speaker describes thoughts as energy formations, halfway between physical and non-physical, with a pulling power that demands attention and can lead people away from the present moment.
What role does the speaker attribute to meditation in managing attention?
-The speaker suggests that meditation is a practice that helps individuals gain control over their attention, focusing it on a specific object, mantra, or sound, rather than getting lost in thought.
How does the speaker view the relationship between choice and attention?
-The speaker views the ability to choose where to direct one's attention as fundamental to maintaining freedom and suggests that practicing this choice strengthens one's ability to focus.
What practice does the speaker recommend for managing attention?
-The speaker recommends practicing mindfulness by consciously choosing where to direct attention, whether to an object, a thought, or a sound, and developing the ability to drop thoughts that are not useful.
Why does the speaker believe many people feel compelled to immediately respond to electronic notifications?
-The speaker believes that the societal norm or etiquette demands immediate responses to notifications, which can diminish personal freedom over attention and reaction.
What does the speaker suggest happens when people are fully present and aware?
-When people are fully present and aware, they have the ability to choose their reactions to external stimuli, such as ignoring distractions that do not concern them, thereby maintaining focus on the present moment.
Outlines
π Attention in the Present Moment
The first paragraph discusses the beauty of nature's phenomena, such as fog and sunshine, and uses this as a metaphor for the concept of attention. It explores how external stimuli and technology, like text messages and emails, can involuntarily pull our attention away from the present moment. The speaker reflects on the idea that attention is influenced by various factors and ponders whether we have control over where our attention goes, highlighting the automatic reaction to distractions and the societal expectation to respond immediately to electronic communications.
π§ The Power of Thought and Mindfulness
The second paragraph delves into the internal factors that claim our attention, particularly our thoughts. It describes how we often identify with every thought that arises, giving them power to pull us away from the present moment into a conceptual reality. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing that thoughts are energy formations and that we have the ability to choose whether to follow them or not. The paragraph suggests that mindfulness is about making conscious choices about where to direct our attention, rather than being at the mercy of our thoughts or external distractions.
π± The Choice in Directing Attention
The third paragraph focuses on the practice of directing attention as a form of meditation and self-control. It contrasts the old days of landline telephones with the current ubiquity of mobile devices that demand our constant attention. The speaker encourages the audience to practice choosing where to place their attention, whether it be on a sensory perception, an object, or even a thought, and then letting go of it when necessary. This practice is likened to a muscle that can be strengthened, allowing us to avoid being swept away by every thought or distraction, and ultimately leading to a greater sense of freedom and presence.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Sunshine
π‘Fog
π‘Attention
π‘Present Moment
π‘Electronic Devices
π‘Thoughts
π‘Meditation
π‘Choice
π‘Conceptual Reality
π‘Sensory Perception
π‘Mindfulness
Highlights
Observing the beauty of fog and sunshine along the coast and how attention is drawn to the present moment.
The automatic reaction of attention being pulled by external noises or electronic device notifications.
The cultural expectation to immediately respond to text messages and how it impacts attention.
The realization that people have lost freedom of choice due to constant demands on their attention from devices and thoughts.
The idea that thoughts have a pulling power and can draw attention away from the present moment.
The difficulty scientists face in understanding the nature of thoughts as energy formations.
The concept of being drawn into a conceptual reality by thoughts, separate from the present moment.
The choice individuals have to direct their attention rather than being at the mercy of external factors.
Practicing not giving immediate attention to text messages or emails as a way to regain control.
The ability to choose to direct attention to physical sensations, like the feeling in one's hand.
The practice of meditation as a way to gain control over where attention is directed.
Using a meditation object to focus attention and strengthen the 'muscle' of choice.
The importance of recognizing when attention wanders and consciously choosing to redirect it.
The potential to let go of thoughts and not follow them, allowing them to dissolve on their own.
The historical shift from landline phones to mobile devices and the impact on attention and interruptions.
The societal pressure to immediately respond to phone calls, even without knowing who is calling.
The introduction of caller ID as a way to regain some choice in directing attention to phone calls.
Transcripts
beautiful sunshine but the fog is
rolling in slowly that's beautiful too
and quite often along the coast here you
get fog and sunshine at the same time so
as the fog reaches the beach it begins
to dissolve and then see the Sun
filtering through the fog quite magical
so here we are
an interesting thing to observe while
you're here especially but the rest of
your life also is where your attention
is at any given time or more precisely
in the present moment which is all there
is where your attention is in the
present moment and whether your
attention is determined by all kinds of
factors or whether you have some
influence over where your attention goes
now you've all noticed and experienced
when you're walking in the street or
you're sitting somewhere and suddenly
there's some noise behind you or
somebody shouts something or you're in a
restaurant sitting in somewhere behind
you some of these drops drops a plate
and usually most people wouldn't go
immediately
it's an automatic thing and these days
of course you have other not just plates
breaking which happens relatively rarely
but you have your your phones demanding
your attention so you are having a
wonderful conversation with a friend and
then you suddenly hear you are just
talking about it really connecting and
suddenly your attention goes and it's a
text message or some other sound which
means it's an email
and that demands your attention and
people don't realize that they obey
immediately that little device it's like
a plate breaking except this happens all
the time and or people starting behind
you so you'll be it's all the attention
is being pulled out continuously when I
first got my iPhone two years ago then I
got my first text messages quite
miraculous and then often I didn't reply
until the next day or two days later and
then I was told this is not according to
text message educate
[Laughter]
takes message etiquette dictates that
you reply immediately so occasionally I
do that now but even now I don't always
reply immediately and I don't even look
at it immediately at first I did when I
got the iPhone it and I realized what it
was doing and then apart from all these
external things and of course the
electronic devices they increase the
demands that the external world makes
upon your attention before you had all
these electronic devices yes it's even
then the boiled would make demands
continuously on your attention but not
as frequent as with all these devices
they and and so people don't realize
they are kind of they lose their freedom
of choice and something even more
pervasive that was already there before
the electronic devices came is that
certain thoughts in your mind also
demanding your complete attention
the little thought comes in about
something that you can't do anything
about now but you have to think about it
now and the thought says give me your
attention and you so what I'm talking
about here is you begin to identify with
every thought that arises it it has a
pulling power it pulls you in and it's
an energy formation everything a thought
is an energy form everything is not
physical energy it's probably halfway
between
physical and non-physical and the
greatest scientists no matter what they
tell you their ego may not allow them to
admit it but if they're really honest
and that the ego is not huge they will
admit to you they don't they have
examined the brain for a long time but
they can't they don't know what a
thought is you've looked at brain
chemistry and examined it and examined
it but what is it thoughts they just
still don't know and so we don't need to
know on that level here you just
experience what a thought is and how it
pulls your tension in and you follow it
up if you follow it where it wants to
take you it it leads to another
Associated thought and another and
before you know it you are dragged along
by another mind stream out of the
present moment into some conceptual
reality because that's what thought is
so you're drawn away into some
conceptual reality which includes a
conceptual sense of self a meaning an
image of me a narrative of me and so
that is then the reality that you
inhabit most of the time and so whether
your tension is pulled by some external
thing or and different electronic
cartridge or your thoughts it goes to
all kinds of places in your head and
outside and thing and so it's English
you actually can choose to direct your
attention to something rather than being
at the mercy
of all kinds of factors that determine
where your attention is going to go so
you can choose when you hear the ping of
a text message or the bone of an email
you can choose to not give it your
attention but just remain still for
three seconds and then you have a choice
you can give it your attention or not
give it your attention at least now you
have a choice the same thing with when
some of this salting behind you and
obviously doesn't concern you why
automatically go if you're really
present when you can hear the noise and
you don't go there it's not necessary
it's just somebody dropped a plate or
whatever in a restaurants all the time
so you can choose to direct your
attention for example right now you can
choose to direct your attention of
course it's in at the moment it's in
visual perception and auditory
perception in addition you can choose to
direct your attention into your right
hand which does not diminish the ability
to listen and choose to listen and to
see what's going on here so you can have
your attention in your right hand and
feel the energy as I can feel it right
now can feel the energy in my right
hands or the aliveness which does not
diminish my ability to speak or to see
you
I can feel and I can feel the left hand
also so you can direct attention into
your feet you can direct attention to
some object in this room
any sensory perception you can choose to
think a particular sort and then let go
of the sort what am I going to have for
dinner
what are they going to serve for dinner
tonight
sort arises I'm feeling a little bit
peckish it wants one daughter and then
you can choose to let go of that thought
and not to follow it and return your
attention to visual and auditory
perception and so that's it's you have a
choice when you're this you realize that
you have a choice where you're - you
don't need to and to practice with the
electronic gadgets particularly because
they the commonly consensus is that you
don't have a choice you have to
immediately look and second reply or
whatever immediately it used to be just
telephones but the telephones had a line
attached to them so that they're in a
particular place they didn't follow you
around
[Music]
but even when they had telephones people
would interrupt any conversation just
because the phone was ringing and at
that time they didn't even have caller
identification so you had to do you had
to pick it up no matter who you had no
idea what was going to call but you had
it was ringing you had to pick up and
give your attention to that call then
the time came for slightly when there
was caller Ids at least you could look
and see who is called do I want to talk
to this person so the choice in
directing your attention and that is
really the beginning of meditation or
any meditation practice is to have some
influence over where your attention goes
and usually in meditation your attention
is directed to a meditation object for a
while and some people get stuck there
for 20 years or the rest of their lives
the attention may go to a mantra which
really is a certain thought or certain
sounds that you repeat in your head or
you speak out aloud and so your it it
becomes the focus for your attention and
you choose to direct your attention
there rather than useless thinking you
directed your attention becomes focused
or you can have an external object of
your attention the candle flame a flower
whatever it is and you keep your
attention there for a few minutes 10
minutes 15 minutes and when it wanders
away and you notice it's gone away you
choose to redirect your attention to
that the object of your meditation so
that's a it's a practice you it's like a
physical exercise you the muscle of
choice
is strengthened by realizing you you can
practice
you have a choice and then you reach
cover you do not have to follow every
thought where it wants to take you you
can drop your thought or you can
recognize your thought it's just another
of those old thoughts not interesting
and then it dissolves by itself
[Applause]
you
you
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