How to Train an Elephant (book)

[Steve]

Whilst working through the same book again would be great, another option would be to work through another, simlar series of weekly tasks. Has anyone read

"Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time" by Rick Hanson?

Steve

[Metaphysical Me]

Hi Steve,

I'd love to try that one.

I love Rick Hanson - I'm reading one of his books about his "take in the good" method now and "Buddha's Brain" is lieing on my bedside table, waiting to be read.

I don't have the "Just one Thing" book, but I'd be happy to get it to work with it here.

If anyone's interested, here's the Amazon link to the book (with the "look inside" option)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-One-Thing-Developing-Practice/dp/1608820319/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386455182&sr=8-1&keywords=rick+hanson+just+one+thing

It looks like it's also split into 52 weeks. The topics for the first weeks are:

1. Be for yourself
2. Take in the good
3. Have compassion for yourself
4. Relax
5. See the good in yourself
6. Slow down
7. Forgive yourself
8. Get more sleep
9. Befriend your body
10. Nourish your brain

Do you already have the book, Steve?

[FeeHutch]

That one looks interesting, I will try and grab a copy in time for the new year I think

[Steve]

No, I haven't got this book yet. The Kindle 'sample' (as you've robably discovered) only comprises the list of contents and not the first chapter. But coming from Rick Hanson its should be good.

For those who don't use ebooks or a kindle - please note that you can download a free kindle app to read kindle books on your smart phone, tablet or PC - it works really well. I often prefer this to reading ebooks on my kobo (Kindle has access to more books, is often cheaper, usually provides longer samples and its much more user firendly).

Steve

[Steve]

Please note that I've started a new topic for 'Just One Thing' so there is a separate topic for each book.

Steve

[Metaphysical Me]

The Kindle 'sample' (as you've robably discovered) only comprises the list of contents and not the first chapter. But coming from Rick Hanson its should be good.

Steve, and anyone else who's interested - you can read the first 50 or so pages of the book (non-Kindle version) with the link I posted above.
I'll post it here again, just in case:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-One-Thing-Developing-Practice/dp/1608820319/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386455182&sr=8-1&keywords=rick+hanson+just+one+thing

[Steve]

OK, back to 'elephant training'.

This week it has been awareness of the stomach. This has made me a little more aware of the desire to eat when I don't need to eat. I've tried to treat my stomach a little more sympathetically and to be aware of the messages coming from it. In some ways, I quite like the idea of eating when it feels hungry, maybe a little at a time and more often and not postponing or ignoring signals that its time for a number two (!), rather than forcing it to fit in with some arbitrary schedule that other things might try to dictate.

The coming week is be aware of your Centre, The concept of centre of gravity is easiest for me to grasp and it will be intersting to see how initiating actions from my centre (rather than from the mind) will be. The centre is in much the same area as the stomach so this seems to be a development of last week.

Hope you all have a good week.

Steve

[FeeHutch]

I have found it interesting how often what I feel in my stomach is emotional rather than physical. I think I feel anxiety, apprehension and nerves in my stomach as much as my chest.

Also quite often my stomach tells me what it wants food wise if I pay attention. I think we have talked about this before with mindful eating but if I pause before selecting food I do notice a preference for simpler and more wholesome fare than when my eyes spot something and my brain says it will be quick and easy!

Center of gravity. I remember finding it strange when I was pregnant that my centre of gravity shifted so much! Also because of the balance and vestibular stuff I often think I am falling or leaning to one side because the messages around my body get a bit confused. I sometimes find it very helpful to stand in bare feet, feeling aware of my stance and my body, find my center of gravity and do a brief body scan. I was taught in rehab to regularly check in to see what my actual body was doing, not what it felt like it was doing and mindfulness has added to that.

[Steve]

I completely overlooked emotional feelings in the stomach - noticing your 'gut feeling' and listening to it is so important! Thanks for reminding me.

Steve

[Steve]

Part of this weeks pratice is to be aware of the 'hara' in the abdomen. I'm still trying to 'connect' with this. Does anyone else have experience or guidance on this? The book suggests that when our 'centre of operations' is moved from our mind to our hara thoughts settle and awareness opens up. This sounds worth trying to achieve so if anyone else has thoughts on this, pleae let me know. Thanks.

Steve