Interested to hear peoples opinions on how best to control your mind, and/or get the best out of it?

Question:

Over the last few years I have looked at many different methods of developing inner peace, and mind contol(meditation, tai chi, mantras, proverbs, ancient knowledge, religion etc). One of the best ways I have found, is the importance of managing internal stimuli ie negative thoughts, intrusive thoughts, feelings and emotions. One of the methods is simply-meditation style-ignoring these games of the mind ie not energising. Trying not to think internally ie keeping focussed on whats around you etc, rather than focused internally/on self. Any thoughts on this? Is it best to simply not think about self, and let the brain/mind do its thing? Almost a paradox-to get the best from the mind requires stopping your thoughts? Big topic I know, any thoughts on this subject(s) would be appreciated and read with interest. Many thanks.

Answers:
yes, I too find this subject very interesting. Recently I have come across the subject on the egoic mind and about living in the present.. I often find it hard to meditate my mind chatters on, The subjec ton the ego trying to take you over and often capturing your mind to stay on the negative is very interesting. Ekhart Tolles has written a lot about the subject and is worth reading. Ekhart says . in order to be happy we have to learn to disidentify with our thoughts and emotions and take a higher stance in witnessing our internal life. That way we shall develop presence in the Here and Now and learn not to be taken away anymore. This is the Mystical Warrior Stance: to remain firmly rooted in the Now and fight all distractions of the mind, out of our deep knowledge that nothing can make us happy and blissful apart from this our own inner Self.

Check out his website.

I just do drugs ;-)

Don't try to think about nothing. Think about something peaceful. A sea shore or water fall or field of flowers.

Interestingly enough I have just received an email along these lines, which I thought was so interesting I have copied and pasted it so I can come back to it again and try to put it into practice.
It's really to do with positive thinking, you only stop your bad, negative thoughts, which in the end only bring you down, and keeping your mind focused on the good stuff

put on some pink floyd,light some incense & lay back w/ eyes closed & go any where you wanna go!

Controlling of the mind and higher levels are reached only through the breath meditation.

At the beginning you will find that you cannot concentrate on the breath as other thoughts come in. If you sit down and close your eyes you will notice that your mind is jumping from one thought to another. Even though you want to concentrate on your breath you will find other thoughts also coming in between.

To calm and control your mind you must follow every thought that comes into you mind. You must be like a Manager of a Hotel who stands at the entrance and observes the customers coming in. Without getting attached to the thoughts try to observe them. You will find that a thought comes in and that it goes nowhere and another thought follows it - try following that too - with same results. This way you will find that your thoughts gradually subside. Do not try to force out your thoughts.

Thereafter you must start concentrating on your breath. Notice the breath coming in and going out. You should not concentrate only on the tip of your nose. Notice the breath coming in and thereafter your lungs getting filled and then gradually exhaling the breath. You will reach a stage where the mind takes over the breathing and you will not physically feel the breathing. It will be more like 'happy breathing'.

Sometimes you feel happy but not holy.
Sometimes you feel holy and happy but not healthy.
The trick of eternal grace is being all three. Healthy, Happy and Holy.
Join the 3HO Foundation.

Interested to hear peoples opinions on how best to control your mind, and/or get the best out of it?

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