Why judge and criticize the feelings?

[libertynow]

Why does this happen? I would be so much further ahead if I could just stop judging and criticizing the feelings. All the meditation talk about accepting the feelings, but how if your mind only wants to fight it even though that same mind knows that the fight gives it it's power. Why?

Kevin

[Dahila]

Kevin are you meditating? It will calm your mind and feelings, you will get control over it, and what the most important, the happiness..:)

[libertynow]

Kevin are you meditating? It will calm your mind and feelings, you will get control over it, and what the most important, the happiness..:)

I've been meditating for about 8 months about 2-3 times a day. Although I've gotten better overall it seems like I've hit a plateau. I have some days of almost normal and done days like going backwards. I don't drink alcohol. I don't smoke. I don't drink caffein. I eat healthy and exercise almost daily.

It's clear to me my focus causes my bad and good days. But that focus is hard to control. Focus on positive is work focus on negative seems sadly easily. :(

[Dahila]

Life is always about positive and negative, there must be balance. I was meditating for years then quit and then started on it again, if feels good. I cut my meds too. Have ever listen guided meditation by Jon Kabat Zinn? I am huge fan of his
His voice is so boring and level it does help a lot. You can find him on youtube or I put some links in Thread "meditation and support" or something similar...When you think you have hit a plateau, it is not necessary true....
Please, do not mind my English skills it is my second language. :))
Sometimes hit a dead spot indicated that you need to change the approach. Think about it:)

[Ponder]

Excellent question.

With all due respect, I struggle with the word "happiness" and find it rather unstable when combined with the concept of mediation - particularly with the notion of defining it the most important aspect. (no doubt a judgment of my own mind there - Perhaps my discernment or more a mindful approach to best avoid such misconceptions as I see them to be.) Forgive me as of course every "being" wishes to at least go through life in a pleasant state - not a life that's constantly full of unpleasantness. Given the focus of the Title relating to feelings - then the mention of mediation in the following sentence ... summons up in my mind -> how separate those two elements really are.

Edit.
The mind seeks to control us, by making continual judgments which keeps us from actually experiences how it is that we truly feel ... we think we feel - when really we don't even know were we really are or even who we may really be - we continually think and struggle to stop like an addict giving up his or her drugs. Hence as well as hearing words like Illness - The Mind being Mans Sickness - we fight uncontrollably like we do, because we have become like addicted to our own pain - and if we are to believe in all being one like an ocean, then I guess we are all drowning in the worlds residual pain ... LOL .. because I know people don't want to face up to this kind of concept - and I laugh because I am also sick and bask in a false sense of happiness much like others except that I scream out the truths in a way that still denies me myself - an addict screaming out in unending pain.

I can now hear some scattering words in the back of my muddled mind, from the constant mp3 playings of both John Kabat-Zin and Eckart Tolle - however my minds judgments are still spinning fast in my current state, thus somewhat make pulling on those words quite a task. Whilst I could take a breath (and I often do before going on, or going back to edit) in some act to meditate - I now focus on the "intention to meditate" ... a word that just now comes to mind is "Attain" -

Allow me to find the follow quote as I think its bodes well in this quest and well Tittled Thread:

“Meditation is the only intentional, systematic human activity which at bottom is about not trying to improve yourself or get anywhere else, but simply to realize where you already are.”
by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Why judge and criticize the feelings?
Forgive me libertynow ... I lose track easily and use too many words for most - I remind myself of the question again.

You mention the MIND - Check out Tolle "The Power of Now" I do a quick search on something profound he said about the mind and quote that:
http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/840520-the-power-of-now-a-guide-to-spiritual-enlightenment


With regards to the MIND:

"The mind always seeks to deny the Now and to escape from it. In other words, the more you are identified with your mind, the more you suffer".
by - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now

Edit ... Again, we are addicted to such a calamity because the mind has essentially (for whatever reason) evolved to do so - Perhaps the product of Mankind's detachment from the natural world - in it's quest to dominate the planet? Mankind's Quest to seek out fulfillment through all forms such as political, religious and scientific - perhaps it is just they way it is - an evolutionary journey in which will take it's course and what will happen will happen ... Whatever the reasons - The evolutionary path that mans MIND has taken and where it be now - is well described in Eckhart Tolles "The Power Of Now" ... as to the description of just how sick it is and the process of how it seeks to control us and keep us from actually "Being" ... as in actually living. The modern world is a cesspool when it comes to the state of our minds and the denial it has so many of us in. It all builds up as well - Residual pain that keeps us bound to the ways of our modern world. We are constantly fed fuel in which to keep our mind spinning the way it so loves to do.

Are all your reception areas/public spaces filled with media devices / (Large Display Screens) hanging off the walls where one can not find a moments peace? Going sick to the doctors and taking a seat in the waiting areas make me want to throw up when bombarded like so. EEErrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
__________________________________________________ __


The following rings loud for me - It's always on the tip of my tongue and what was on my mind as I read your Title (as too, the non-judgment approach that John talks about)

"Why does the mind habitually deny or resist the Now? Because it cannot function and remain in control without time, which is past and future, so it perceives the timeless Now as threatening. Time and mind are in fact inseparable.”
by - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now

Edit - below paragraph maybe not relevant but is for me -
I just note here - how people use Time as an excuse and how shallow it sounds when thought of along side this quote ... other thing is how Meditation is best lived rather than sort out via a time scheduled, however I understand discipline and time are yet facts of our daily life - none the less - on a whole - TIME is very much an man made concept and how we approach it, worship it, value it - is most certainly un-natural and dictated by our mind and all other aspects that makes us more slaves than anything else.

Best mediation I had the other day, was jumping into a cold ocean during Grey raining weather ... whilst the timing was good - time was eliminated by the hardship endured as I stayed submerged. I was not meditating - yet It was the nest one I had in ages.

In our quest for knowledge, we have lost touch with reality as it continues to degenerate and fall out of sync, under our very noses - How far removed we have become from the natural world and how careless is the majority of people to this fact?. In that process, corruption is evident where as others would make great claims of how superior we have in fact become clinging to faith whilst denying the truth. OK - I pull myself up here because it's so easy to lose track from there and I know such is only my own perception, but I will share it all the same, as I don't worship Tolle or John - its just some of the stuff that has gleaned well for me - nothing more or less.

I really don't have time, and perhaps I might even be boring you - I do however think a look into "non-judgmental awareness" which John Kabat zin speaks about in one of his books "Everywhere you go there you are" would shed some much needed light into the darker areas of your much needed question. Why judge and criticize the feelings?

Quotes can be found here:
http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1276408-wherever-you-go-there-you-are-mindfulness-meditation-in-everyday-life

Why judge and criticize the feelings?
I'm kind of scattered out now - but Feelings - hmmm - Intuition is important to some degree, but how so? - I wish I had more time - feelings are so misconstrued in this age of consumption which is why I flinched with the word happiness and often do, especially making it the pinnacle of success with even yet another word so obscured - Hence we come back to our feelings - but perhaps it's how we relate or make contact with ourselves that is key in all of this - which leads back to SELF to which meditation has now become as complex as any other word. MIND key word MIND - understanding that is surely Key and why I shared Tolle in that respect - Judgment for sure! Check Out Johns ...

It's the way our mind seeks to control us to keep us from simply being in the now ... tis how I have come to see it. Honestly, I am considered by many as a screw ball and rather Naive in many things - I struggle with Bi-polar like symptoms - and a many other mental imbalances - although not labeled like so - (I am on Disability because I can not function out in public) - Anxiety is extreme in many of us as we fight like we do - we feed like so because we live in a world that only offers such for food.

There are those out there trying to make a difference and I guess there is hope in that ...

Best I can say for now --- I love these kind of topics.

I may come back later and dribble some more - but peace to you and Dahila as you best find it.

Thanks for the very interesting question - I want to explain further but am out of fuel for now. Put put ... pfft. ;)

What do I know - I don't! ... but thanks for letting me share - was a much needed distraction that's quite beneficial to my current health and state of mind.

Thank you.

[libertynow]

Thanks Ponder for that response. It was a nice read. You know part of what I mean about judging my feelings is that me perception of depression or anxiety symptoms in morning is what makes or breaks my day. I try not to dwell and focus so much on it and start thinking myself worse with negative thoughts supporting how I feel but I often lose that battle. My good days are if I'm distracted doing enough positive stimulating activities I'll usually win this battles early in morning and as long as I get through morning and most afternoon I'm good for that day. It always seems early part of the day is the hardest. It's like I worry about everything.

[Dahila]

Libertynow do not battle in the morning aknowledge it, observe it, and be with it , for the moment. As soon as we are in the present moment it loses it power. the struggle stops:))

[Ponder]

Yes - we question ourselves too often, instead of just doing what comes naturally. To play on my previous words of being separate from nature or loss of instinct to which doing, once came without thinking - all we do now, is constantly think about what the day holds and how we shall play it, instead of just letting it unfold and taking one step in front of the other.

Pretty much what Dahila says above - "acknowledge it, observe it, and be with it ..." Don't relate only positive experiences to being present. (that I find to be rather Limiting) Many people who are suffering prolonged and extreme pain can be more present than someone who simply smiles at others, as they watch the world revolve around them.

I can relate to some extent myself - I am not this person or concept of which I speak. I have been waking up with a death wish for some mornings now and that can indeed dictate how the rest of my day will go. I'm done with Society - what else is there? If it's dragging me down, then I'll let it go. Literally - people who complain about working - IMO - have a choice - Let it go - Go figure - (Oh but I have this and I have that and the mind comes up with all this stuff - Money / Time and rar rar -

I don't work, I just listen to others cry about it. In my case, I'm sick of hearing all the banter - Turn it Off! ... Best thing is when we get sick of it all - that's a good thing, but what we choose to do is what I am hearing is key. "Just roll with it" can be helpful - does not mean we have to be seen as door mats - but is a good way to sit back and see where its all going and then decide to either keep rolling or just ditch it with out any feeling at all.

Giving it up is like letting go of the bullshit invested emotions of not jut yourself but that too of others - call it as it is without a care for how others might respond "ar fuck it - whatever - I'm not buying it - srry, call again another day - nope not into that - srry you feel that way - I'm having the day off - ok then sack me - if you say so - If you can see yourself getting riled over how it is, that your suppose to be for the day, then I say try another approach in let go if the worry and do something else completely different as if ... to hell with whatever those thoughts are thinking -

I'm not stable - but not to worried what others are thinking let alone myself - giving up on that is part and parcel of accepting myself for as is. I do not really participate in anything - however don't mind making a few discernments for making my own space a little easier to live within. Just find out your triggers - by means of what Dahila said above and let the clarity sink in a little more as you begin not to pine so much - the worry is not so bad in itself, but more so what the trigger is - find out the source - feelings like worry and being sad is not the Negative things here - SO MANY PEOPLE just don't get that - find out what is triggering the warning signs - the chemical responses and work with those findings.

My wifes broken leg and her short temper combined with my sons disrespect and my current tribulation of scabies has stewed up in me a toxic concoction of emotions that have me set to explode - any thoughts that previously welled up negative emotions during this period tend to heighten the response which in this case will drag me down quicker than I could possibly bear. The same can and also happens with positive emotions - thus I don't place to much on either - other than wishing for a balance that leaves me simply feeling at ease and in syn with what works best for me.

Srry to rave and rant ... I hear ya ... I'm still unbalanced myself , however have found much resolve in this question of yours --- I apologize if I seem to of high-jacked it.

I wish you well in this matter - and shall take this topic up in my own thread if I find myself able.

Mornings are supposed to be a best times, however struggling during the nights and those later parts of the days - make recharging quite difficult. Is not easy being mentally unbalanced in these fast paced times - too many damn roles and standards ... let them all go and just be. ;)

[Ponder]

Those smiley faces can be real coy at times ... rolls eyes --- as if it's that easy.

[Dahila]

Mornings are awful, I just made the mistake of setting my alarm clock to early ............