Comments on: Engagement and anxiety http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/engagement-and-anxiety Explore Meditation Online Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:56:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sandy Andrew http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/engagement-and-anxiety/comment-page-1#comment-44928 Sandy Andrew Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:33:25 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?p=2922#comment-44928 I also find it better to just scan the headlines and keep up with current events that way. I also find it better to just scan the headlines and keep up with current events that way.

]]> By: Cory http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/engagement-and-anxiety/comment-page-1#comment-43863 Cory Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:56:25 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?p=2922#comment-43863 Anytime confusion and angst sets in, ted talks always raises my spirits. There is a wealth of inspiration there. Anytime confusion and angst sets in, ted talks always raises my spirits. There is a wealth of inspiration there.

]]> By: Ash http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/engagement-and-anxiety/comment-page-1#comment-43407 Ash Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:13:31 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?p=2922#comment-43407 I came upon this article today and I find the comments on this page extremely helpful. I struggle with web-news addiction, regarding politics, as well. Interestingly I started a (complete) news fast almost three weeks ago and it has reduced my media-related anxiety. However my distress has not completely disappeared as I find myself ruminating about the outcome of the upcoming elections and what it will mean for the society. Secondly, if I were to happen upon (a link to) an article on the web that raises doubts about my Candidate’s chances of winning the election or one that talks about the strengths of the opposition I become anxious immediately. As a remedy for this, I will try the surround with compassion and gentle awareness technique that Bodhipaksa recommends. However, any additional comments are welcome. On a slightly different note, I have found the following website, TED talks, uplifting. It is a free archive of talks by inspirational speakers on various social issues. http://www.ted.com/ I came upon this article today and I find the comments on this page extremely helpful.

I struggle with web-news addiction, regarding politics, as well. Interestingly I started a (complete) news fast almost three weeks ago and it has reduced my media-related anxiety. However my distress has not completely disappeared as I find myself ruminating about the outcome of the upcoming elections and what it will mean for the society. Secondly, if I were to happen upon (a link to) an article on the web that raises doubts about my Candidate’s chances of winning the election or one that talks about the strengths of the opposition I become anxious immediately.

As a remedy for this, I will try the surround with compassion and gentle awareness technique that Bodhipaksa recommends. However, any additional comments are welcome.

On a slightly different note, I have found the following website, TED talks, uplifting. It is a free archive of talks by inspirational speakers on various social issues.

http://www.ted.com/

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/engagement-and-anxiety/comment-page-1#comment-41973 Bodhipaksa Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:03:04 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?p=2922#comment-41973 This may be one of those times when monitoring the news is a necessity! This may be one of those times when monitoring the news is a necessity!

]]> By: Cory http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/engagement-and-anxiety/comment-page-1#comment-41792 Cory Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:35:53 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?p=2922#comment-41792 I've been having considerable difficulty the past week with abstaining from news. With the financial sector in complete disarray and the government stepping in; it is hard not to keep tabs on the potential suffering that might well be caused by all this pernicious activity. I want the banks to stop bullying those less fortunate. I want congress to stop subsidizing that bullying. My hands are shaking as I type this, because I know that this is preventable would those responsible simply see the suffering of others for what it is: their own suffering manifest. My nightly meditation has not noticeably been affected, but my mindfulness is shaken so much so that concentration is difficult. I borrowed two Wei Wu Wei books (Why Lazarus Laughed and Fingers Pointing Towards the Moon) from a friend today. I will mindfully read these and look deeply. I’ve been having considerable difficulty the past week with abstaining from news. With the financial sector in complete disarray and the government stepping in; it is hard not to keep tabs on the potential suffering that might well be caused by all this pernicious activity.

I want the banks to stop bullying those less fortunate. I want congress to stop subsidizing that bullying. My hands are shaking as I type this, because I know that this is preventable would those responsible simply see the suffering of others for what it is: their own suffering manifest.

My nightly meditation has not noticeably been affected, but my mindfulness is shaken so much so that concentration is difficult. I borrowed two Wei Wu Wei books (Why Lazarus Laughed and Fingers Pointing Towards the Moon) from a friend today. I will mindfully read these and look deeply.

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/engagement-and-anxiety/comment-page-1#comment-40451 Bodhipaksa Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:43:15 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?p=2922#comment-40451 Thank you so much for sharing your progress. I'm looking forward to hearing more. Thank you so much for sharing your progress. I’m looking forward to hearing more.

]]> By: Cory http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/engagement-and-anxiety/comment-page-1#comment-40446 Cory Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:42:29 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?p=2922#comment-40446 I've had a couple chance encounters with news of late, with Hurricane Ike, and a couple other world developments. I've managed to (for the most part) keep it to just the headlines, though. Reading the 'Internal Formations' chapter of Thich Nhat Hanh's 'Peace is Every Step' I have come to know fear, anxiety, and other negative feelings as knots which are tied as we observe something tragic or horrific. When I observe that a knot is being tied, I think 'Hello, Fear. There you are again. Come, sit with us in peace.' This loosens the knot, and eventually changes the fear into stillness and calm. This is not always an easy process, and it takes concentration and kindness toward the frightened confusion that arises. Sometimes I manage to embrace what's there, and sometimes not. With time the knots will loosen, but whatever patience I have is what I'm relying on most now. I’ve had a couple chance encounters with news of late, with Hurricane Ike, and a couple other world developments. I’ve managed to (for the most part) keep it to just the headlines, though.

Reading the ‘Internal Formations’ chapter of Thich Nhat Hanh’s ‘Peace is Every Step’ I have come to know fear, anxiety, and other negative feelings as knots which are tied as we observe something tragic or horrific.

When I observe that a knot is being tied, I think ‘Hello, Fear. There you are again. Come, sit with us in peace.’ This loosens the knot, and eventually changes the fear into stillness and calm. This is not always an easy process, and it takes concentration and kindness toward the frightened confusion that arises.

Sometimes I manage to embrace what’s there, and sometimes not. With time the knots will loosen, but whatever patience I have is what I’m relying on most now.

]]> By: Cory http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/engagement-and-anxiety/comment-page-1#comment-39392 Cory Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:19:36 +0000 http://www.wildmind.org/?p=2922#comment-39392 So I have come to almost a week of newslessness. It is liberating. When I observe the need to 'check in on things' arise, I return to the breath and allow it to pass. The anxiety is short lived if it even arises at all. The couple of times that I've given in to clicking a link or reading a headline I observe that the tumult is immediate 'what if?' 'what would I do?' 'how would that affect my family!?' Swept away again, the realization dawns, and I return to being the moment. Most activities are now easier to stay in the moment with. The timing of this practice could not be any better with the media presently reminding us of the horrors of 7 years ago. I do wonder if these reminders will be an annual occurrence now, but that wonderment is also to pass. The future's grip on me is waning, and it is a good trend. So I have come to almost a week of newslessness. It is liberating. When I observe the need to ‘check in on things’ arise, I return to the breath and allow it to pass. The anxiety is short lived if it even arises at all. The couple of times that I’ve given in to clicking a link or reading a headline I observe that the tumult is immediate ‘what if?’ ‘what would I do?’ ‘how would that affect my family!?’ Swept away again, the realization dawns, and I return to being the moment.

Most activities are now easier to stay in the moment with. The timing of this practice could not be any better with the media presently reminding us of the horrors of 7 years ago. I do wonder if these reminders will be an annual occurrence now, but that wonderment is also to pass. The future’s grip on me is waning, and it is a good trend.

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