If we rule out the possibility of psychological avoidance being a desirable attentional strategy, it seems that the best choices can narrow to a set of three. So, in any situation where I notice dissatisfaction, I can put my intention into being singleminded in the moment (forcefully focused), fluid, or aware of eternity/immanence.
Singlemindedness fits when we're in a situation where we can "be the ball". When one is able to do this in meditation, it stabilizes attention and leads to bliss (and perhaps more for advanced meditators). This tight focus lends itself to tranquility because everything that is peripheral is deprioritized and unattended to--including worries about myself. The result is tranquility, and bliss often arises of that tranquility.
Fluidity fits better when it is necessary to go somewhere with one's attention, to incorporate movement. If you focus in in one moment and allow training to take over, let's say you hit the pitch, then in the next moment as you hear the crack of the ball on the bat or notice your swing as it goes beyond the plate, you shift your focus to notice where the ball is going, how long it will take a defender to get to it, the direction to move in towards first base, etc. This type of focus may be very tight, then, but it is different than singlmindedness. Familiarity with moments of singlemindedness, though, can prepare one for flow. If I can stabilize my awareness, I can then also give it room to move. Without learning to stabilize, mind moves as is its nature, and I may not feel fully identified or nonattached to the movement, I may feel somewhat separated from how my mind is working and moving. That distracts one from singlemindedness and flow.
Eternity is a little different, too. Some people get their sense of eternity from faith in God, others might feel eternity when the mind and heart open unexpectedly. The first time people realize that they have found someone or something which they are powerless not to love is a great example of eternity--a different sense of totality than singlemindedness. Eternity is often more open than singlemindedness, and singlemindedness often feels very condensed because one's intention and intensity in maintaining singlemindedness is important. Eternity is different than flow because there is always some hint or aspect that feels totally untouched by time. Parents will love children as long as humans exist--it's timeless, a quality or characteristic of who we are. That timelessness comes home for an individual the first time that they realize that they love their child fully, with everything.
So in any given moment, does it work best for me to focus in and stabilize my attention? focus but include more than a single point, flow? open myself to a sense of timelessness and immersion in reality? Each moment provides a different situation and gives rise to a new answer. In some moments the question is totally unnecessary to begin with. What happens then?
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3 comments:
i don't know, what happens then?
In one sense, the words in your question are a good answer. We don't know ahead of time )i don't know) because you can't expect spontaneity or an overwhelming experience that is new. If WHAT were a thing, that is what happens (what happens then--now as well).
In other words, anything can happen, but trying to expect what will occur may limit the flow or keep one from being able to focus to a single point. So these three movements can be understood most easily as different ways of moving through or beyond various restrictions. Conceptual comprehension, though, is rarely satisfying on its own. So it can be helpful to accept a certain stance of unknowing and focus or move forward or open. Reality happens as nonseparate from oneself (singlemindedness), as a fluid context (flow), and/or as abundance, eternity, the unborn/unchanging.
Reality happens in a curious way as one feels oneself moving towards freedom and connection. Moments of singlemindedness help us learn to stabilize attention without using ideation as a container for attention.
Good for people to know.
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