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6 EASTERN HORIZON | LEAD ARTICLE

Once we are able to stop trying to When we watch movies about Once we have some insight into
pretend that life is supposed to time travel, we are told to worry our minds, then we can work more
look a certain way, we can relax and about changing any tiny thing in effectively at cultivating new habits.
work much more effectively with the past because it could have huge For example, metta (loving-kindness)
our lives and difficult situations. I ramifications for the future. Why meditation focuses primarily on
sometimes say that my definition of don’t we take this same care with undermining our tendencies to
Zen is “stopping pretending.” our present actions, recognizing divide people into good/bad, our
that a small thing today might have tendency toward reacting with anger,
Could you elaborate on some of large effects in the future? etc. Tonglen meditation focuses on
these tools the Buddha taught us undermining our tendencies to push
to cultivate positive emotions so One of the key tools is meditation. away what feels uncomfortable and
that we live a happy life? Do all forms of meditation, from increases compassion.
Zen to Vipassana and Jhanas lead
Once we stop clinging to the idea to the same goal, i.e. liberation These techniques are all useful, but
that life should be other than it from suffering? not necessarily for the same result.
is, we can gain some surprising This is why the Buddhism has so
insights. For example, many people My understanding is that they do many different techniques. Not
spend a lot of time and energy not. Different practices lead different everyone needs the same thing at
worrying over past mistakes and places. I tend to think about any given time in their lives.
injuries as well as generating anxiety meditation practices in two main
about what might happen in the groups – familiarizing and cultivating What about chanting the
future. All of this energy is wasted. meditations (this categorization Buddha’s name and mantras?
You can’t change the past. You can’t is oversimplified, of course). For They are widely practiced in some
control the future. In fact, if we look example, a simple mindfulness of Buddhist traditions to cope with
closely, we realize that everything emotion (vedana) meditation can negative or stressful emotions. Is
is the way it is now because of show us what our habits of emotion there scientific evidence on the
millions of past causes, conditions, tend to be. Do we tend to have more efficacy of such practices?
choices, and actions. The only way positive or negative thoughts? Once
something could be different now a negative feeling arises, does it I am unaware of scientific studies
is if different actions or conditions typically lead to more? Similarly, on these practices (although such
had been taken in the past. Because mindfulness of body meditations can studies may exist). Yet, the Buddha
they weren’t, things must be exactly show us how unruly our minds can primarily taught us to examine the
as they are today. From this point of be. We’re simply trying to feel the practices ourselves. If they help
view, this means that everything is breath, but thoughts interrupt and you, then they’re helpful, and keep
exactly perfect as it is. carry us away. doing them. If they’re not, then try
something different.
This does not mean that there is no Understanding our habits of mind
injustice, no war, and no suffering. are important to know clearly if we Buddhists are also taught to
It means that we can relax our need want to change them. It’s hard to practice non-attachment or
to try to control past and future. change our habits if we don’t know equanimity in life. Can you
Once we do this, we regain all of what they are. I think it’s useful explain how to remain positive
that energy, and we can use that to spend several weeks or months and not to confuse such practice
energy now to become one of the focused on familiarizing styles of with apathy, indifference, or a
causes and conditions that shapes meditation. couldn’t care less attitude?
the future.