Mindfulness of Feeling

Feelings are highly addictive in and of themselves. As practitioners we must be wary of this and be out to steady our minds in the face of feelings rather than reflexly indulge in pleasure or to try to get away from pain. Body awareness helps – awareness of movement and posture. The physicality of the body has a steadying, grounding effect on feeling.

When feelings are not noted consciously they will turn into moods. Pain or discomfort will make us grumpy. When a pleasant feeling ends we will unhappy. With mindfulness however we can take feeling as information or feedback, and try to act skilfully. 

People who meditate to open up to their feelings over-sensitise and turn neurotic. They can also become confused as to which feelings are self-generated and which are a response to something or someone else. People can even imagine they are beginning to feel other people's feelings directly, as if feeling has become some kind of energy like electricity. This is all deluded. It is not possible to directly feel other people's feelings. This is not empathy. All feelings arise out of perception. Empathy comes from sharing the perception of another person, seeing something for a moment through their eyes. The most powerful feelings come from the most powerful perceptions. 

And a truly open mind is like a question, not an answer. 






I offer this for your reflection

Ajahn Kalyāno
http://www.openthesky.co.uk