Monkey Mind

Monkey Mind is the term given to someone whose mind's always running, thinking, always going from one thought to the next, like a monkey. 'Just as a monkey swinging through the trees grabs one branch and lets it go only to seize another, so too that which is called thought, mind or consciousness arises and disappears continually both day and night,' said Siddhartha Guatama. If you spend a short time simply noticing what your mind is doing, you will probably find, to a certain extent, that many thoughts will pop up, no matter how much you try and stop them. Worth a try.

Jack Kornfield's Buddhist Psychology

I'm currently reading Jack Kornfield's book The Wise Heart, subtitled Buddhist Psychology For The West. It contains explanations of Buddhist psychological beliefs, and they are summed up in concise points. I've tried to find these concise points in a list, both in the book itself and on the internet, but no luck. So I thought I'd compile them here. I'd first like to stress that these points are intended to be coupled with Jack Kornfield's invaluable detailed explanations, so don't expect to fully understand them straight off. If you want to learn more, please find a copy of The Wise Heart, this is only to a) give people who've read the book a single list, and b) give people who haven't read the book a flavour of the book as a whole.

1. See the inner nobility and beauty of all human beings.
2. Compassion is our deepest nature. It arises from our interconnection with all things.
3. When we shift attention from experience to the spacious consciousness that knows, wisdom arises.
4. Recognise the mental states that fill consciousness. Shift from unhealthy states to healthy ones.
5. Our ideas of self are created by identification. The less we cling to ideas of self, the freer and happier we will be.
6. Our life has a universal and personal nature. Both dimensions must be respected if we are to be happy and free.
7. Mindful attention to any experience is liberating. Mindfulness brings perspective, balance and freedom.
8. Mindfulness of the body allows us to live fully. It brings healing, wisdom and freedom.
9. Wisdom knows what feelings are present without being lost in them.
10. Thoughts are often one-sided and untrue. Learn to be mindful of thought instead of being lost in it.
11. There is a personal and a universal consciousness. Turning awareness to the unconsciousness brings understanding and freedom.
12. The unhealthy patterns of our personality can be recognised and transformed into a healthy expressions of our natural temperament.
13. There are both healthy and unhealthy desires. Know the difference. Then find freedom in their midst.
14. If we cling to anger or hatred, we will suffer. It is possible to respond strongly, wisely, and compassionately, without hatred.
15. Delusion misunderstands the world and forgets who we are. Delusion gives rise to all unhealthy states. Free yourself from delusion and see with wisdom.
16. Pain is inevitable. Suffering is not. Suffering arises from grasping. Release grasping and be free of suffering.
17. Be mindful of intention. Intention is the seed that creates the future.
18. What we repeatedly visualise changes our body and consciousness. Visualise freedom and compassion.
19. What we repeatedly think shapes our world. Out of compassion, substitute healthy thoughts for unhealthy ones.
20. The power of concentration can be developed through inner training. Concentration opens consciousness to profound dimensions of healing and understanding.
21. Virtue and integrity are necessary for genuine happiness. Guard your integrity with care.
22. Forgiveness is both necessary and possible. It is never too late to find forgiveness and start again.
23. There is no separation between inner and outer, self and other. Tending ourselves, we tend the world. Tending the world, we tend ourselves.
24. The middle way is found between all opposites. Rest in the middle and find well-being wherever you are.
25. Release opinions, free yourself from views. Be open to mystery.
26. A peaceful heart gives birth to live. When love meets suffering, it turns to compassion. When love meets happiness, it turns to joy.

I'd like to thank Jack Kornfield for this collection, all credit goes to him. Hope they've changed something for the better!

Thanks for reading, please send any suggestions for future blogs to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, comment below, and you can see my Twitter page somewhere on the right of the page.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Daily Buddhism

A friend recently recommended that I should follow other peoples blogs, as a way of becoming more involved in the online community. With that in mind, I found many new blogs and websites, mostly relating to Buddhism, so I thought I'd draw attention to one in particular.

It is called Daily Buddhism, and it's, in my opinion, one of the more well rounded websites on the internet. There are short podcasts (along with written text to accompany them), blog posts and links to other great websites. Everything communicated is done so in a friendly, easy to approach way, while Brian Schell (the website's owner, poster, etc.) goes in to more detailed explanations and approaches to some of Buddhism's more complex or larger issues. All in all, I thoroughly recommend having a look at this website, a great way to make trawling the internet that little less monotonous!

Thanks for reading, please send any and all suggestions for future blogs to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

To Hathersage And Back

Yesterday, being the 13th, I went on a walk to Hathersage. I was accompanied by my friend Timmy, as we were both training for our Silver Duke Of Edinburgh award. Went quite well, only got lost once, and that didn't slow us down too much. When we got there, we were met by my parents and brother at the Outdoor shop's café, where I had a very nice cheese and tomato toastie. After that, walked back over Stanage Edge, got home for about 3:45, feet hurting a lot.

Thanks for reading, send any suggestions for future blogs to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Santander (Continued)

Any of you who regularly read this will know about my frustrations with trying to order a debit card from Santander. It seems to have taken a step in the right direction, if very briefly. I went into a branch to order another card, all went well. My card arrived yesterday, and I opened the envelope with glee. Surprise surprise, they cocked it up again. Instead of sending a new debit card, they sent a cash card, one of which I already own. Bravo Santander, Bravo.

Thanks for reading, email me at jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com with suggestions, and comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Bill Turnbull

Who says the news is going downhill? I think at the point where BBC Breakfast's Bill Turnbull is reporting politics from a fairground in Milton Keynes, you know something's gone wrong. It is, at the best of times, a little distracting trying to follow an interview conducted in front of a candy floss stand. At the end of Turnbull's segment, he picked up some candy floss, and made a pun. I was so distracted throughout that whole time, I can't remember anything he said. I know nothing more about politics after that. I do now know that Milton Keynes has an indoor fair today.

Next up on the program, absolutely true, Sian Williams interviews Rory Bremner, discussing his impressions of this year's election politicians.

Thanks for reading, send suggestions to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and feel free to comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Easter

Not really sure what to write here, Easter's pretty self explanatory. Jesus died on Friday, resurrected on Sunday, yay. In short, looking forward to chocolate.

Also, saw Goodfellas yesterday morning. It was very good, reminiscent of The Godfather series and, to a lesser extent, Scarface (but that was terrible). If you've seen The Departed (another good film), liked it, and also liked The Godfather, it's a safe bet that you'll like Goodfellas. It's got all the old-style charm of the gangsters, Godfather, mixed with new music, Departed. On top of that, with Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta in it, it's bound to be good. It's one of those one's where you hear the protagonist's commentary throughout, which, surprisingly, doesn't get annoying. All in all, I recommend watching any of those films I mentioned (if you are old enough, of course), except Scarface. Because it's crap.

Thanks, have a good Easter. Comment and email please.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~