Re: Methinks there is a method to their non-method-ness. Posted by Jeff on April 11, 2001 at 21:51:26:
In Reply to: Methinks there is a method to their non-method-ness. posted by John on April 05, 2001 at 16:34:16:
Hi Coach & All:
I was broswing some older posts looking for something and I struck a
line from the coach>Well . . . . . . first of all, it does appear that
Milne "might have been" a mindfulness practitioner of some kind.
While reading all this business on the "non-method" method(as I read it
no plan is a plan), I was wondering about "unintentional" mindful
experiences. For me it seems that the awareness of the moment comes
when the thinking process is cleared away sort of, there is intent
involved, but it skirts the usual thinking channel. In the same way
that one can change the focus of visual experience to the space in
front of the computer, one becomes aware of that space, not in a
thinking way(with words/thoughts), but truly experiential(beyond
description). Is is not possible for a person who has not been
practicing meditation or participating in mindfulness class exercises
to simply be on an experiential level, at least briefly? I would think
this might actually happen fairly often to some such as a muscian or a
writer(such as Milne) who mastering their craft transcends the
mechanics of the instrument or typewriter and simply exists with the
music or words.
Thinking back on my life there are certain activities which have
produced similar experiential moments. Various sports seem to produce
similar moments of transendance. While these moments have resonated
trhough my life they have not necessarily produced a lasting
transformative effect, although the effect at the time may have been
very profound. The ego is lost in the activity, but returns shortly
thereafter, such as when I am relating the event(necessarily using
words & the obligatory ego driven embellishments) with friends later.
For me I'm fairly certain that pure chance is not the best way to
produce some form of transfromation over the long run, although it
seems most certainly a way to produce transformation. This has been my
experience of it.
for the moment, Jeff
Continue with Winter 2001 Classroom Talk or
Post a new discussion in the current Classroom Talk
Archived May 8, 2001