Concentration

“calm unification that occurs when the mind is profoundly undistracted….”

1) internally steadied

2) composed

3) unified

4) solidified

For me I can only achieve a mental steadiness when I can recognise just how unsteady my mind is, how distracted and fleeting my thoughts are.

The composed mind is like an orchestra where every instrument has a time and place. There is a time for sadness, tension, ecstasy, calm, excitement, you can choose this time where these minds will best serve you.

having a goal is like having lunch. You feel hunger, u go to a cafe, select your food, pay for it, sit down and eat it, then your hunger subsides. The actions you take all directly relate to the goal of satiety. The mind in a similar way can be set to task.

one molecule of water alone cannot cool down a drink on a hot day, however many combined drops of water placed in a freezer over a short period of time bond together and form ice cubes. Each time you set your mind to the previous 3 goals you strengthen and solidify the skill of concentration until it permeates your whole being.

exercise: set an alarm for 1 minute. In this minute simply observe the mind. How many thoughts do u have in 1 minute.

exercise: suppose you gave yourself permission to feel frustration. When would be the perfect time and place to feel this?

exercise: when you are tense, make a goal to relax for 10 minutes, set your alarm, find a cushion, take it to a quiet and calm place, sit down on the cushion, close your eyes, take several long slow breaths.