Walking the dog mindfully ???

[ONE: Deeper Peace]

Mindfulness is not the absence of chaos. Mindfulness is not the feeling of happiness. Mindfulness is not peace, nor joy, nor silence.

Mindfulness is simply noticing.

I remember being perplexed by the "overthinking" thing early on in my own practice. To me, the term isn't meant to imply that I should not think at all. It simply means that I'm attaching a whole lot of unnecessary (and false) importance on my thoughts, enslaving myself to them.

Mindfulness encourages me to see my thoughts for what they are, without judgement if they're right or wrong, nor expectation that I have to follow them, or even believe them!

I read this and smiled:

"As I mentioned in another thread, I'm someone who was taught that emotions (especially *acting* on emotions) is silly, ludicrious and only permissible on the occasional exception.

So the idea of walking round a suburb + park based solely on how which street makes you FEEL today is kind of a foreign concept."

I was taught that this exact sentiment applies to thoughts and feelings both. With mindfulness, I am able to choose to act instead of react.

Plus, mindfulness does not mean feeling. It has nothing to do with emotions, except that it's a great tool for becoming aware of them.

I love in the example you gave, you noticed what your ideas and concepts about how to approach emotions in life are... so it is the act of noticing that is mindfulness. The ideas and concepts and feelings themselves are simply the things that you noticed.

It's easier for me to simply observe and notice when I stop taking what I think and feel so seriously. Feelings and thoughts come and go, like clouds in the sky. Big deal.

So while walking the dog, no matter what thoughts or feelings arise, my practice of mindfulness allows me to just observe. Nothing more. Whether the dog is sleeping peacefully or running around in mad circles is irrelevant, has nothing to do with how mindful I am (or can) be.

Not sure if any of this helps, but it sure gave me some great stuff to ponder.

[Metaphysical Me]

Not sure if any of this helps, but it sure gave me some great stuff to ponder.

Yeah, what you've written does help. It does point in the right direction.

I think the answer to mindfulness questions (or the solutions to issues "blocking" us in our practice) are often sort of vague and hazy at first. It's probably because one is coming at "the problem" and "the solution" with the wrong perspective... Probably in grappling with the problem and solution, one undergoes a change in perspective... which then leads to the "click" that makes you finally "get" what's been the bug that's stopped you practising mindfulness with ease in a certain situation...

I do realise that mindfulness is not our thoughs, or our feelings.

But I guess that both thoughts and feelings sometimes *get in the way of* mindfulness. So, if that's the case, (say it's a thought or feeling that bugs you EACH time your try being mindful in that situation, hence not just a passing thought or feeling, that you can allow to just "move on")... well, then I think it can be advantageous to examine that thought or feeling, to try and get a handle on why it's being such a bother...

Your example re the dog either sleeping peacefully or running round in mad circles is fine, say, in the garden, or the lounge room. However, if I'm out walking the streets, it's a big difference whether he's walking calmly next to me on the sidewalk, or making a mad dash for a rabbit onto a busy 4 lane road, where he'll no doubt be hit by one of the cars.

So, it sort of adds a layer of complexity....

I mean, I guess I can be mindful of the fact that the dog is NOT walking calmly on the leash and be mindful of my preventing his running onto the road...?

At the moment, it's helping quite a bit to think of our dog walks as "emotional walks".

Cos even if emotions are nothing to do with mindfulness, it's kinda hard to explain that to the dog, haha

So, the walks are led by the dog's (quite strong) emotions... while I try to be mindful...

But, as you can tell, I'm still a bit of a way away from "the solution"... So I will have to meditate and mull on this issue some more, til I find the right perspective on it.

Many thanks for your thoughts tho!!!

XXX Janey

[ONE: Deeper Peace]

I mean, I guess I can be mindful of the fact that the dog is NOT walking calmly on the leash and be mindful of my preventing his running onto the road...?

YES! You got it... right there. Yay! Lol
That is where mindfulness lives.

As far as complexity goes, that is a concept you attach to the situation. A belief. A perspective.

I may have posted this in another thread, not sure, but it applies here. Imagine you and I sitting together at a table with a glass between us. You may think it's the most beautiful glass in the world; I may think it's the ugliest thing I've ever seen. Is the glass good or bad? Neither... it's just a glass.

Your dog, running in traffic, is just your dog. Your reaction to him running in traffic is separate from your dog, a whole other thing. You choose your reaction. Make sense?

[James123]

Am I the only newb on here who sometimes gets more confused as to what, exactly, mindfulness is the more I read this forum?

Could we perhaps have a sub-forum for the dunce element? But no slipper, please Sir.

[Cheesus]

Mindfulness is not the absence of chaos. Mindfulness is not the feeling of happiness. Mindfulness is not peace, nor joy, nor silence.

Mindfulness is simply noticing.

It took me so long to figure this out. I was always striving to achieve certain states in mindfulness. It was actually very damaging to me. What I have learnt to do now is simply be kind to the states that do arise. This is particularly important as I suffer from a chronic illness that affects my nervous system resulting in pulsing feelings of tension. Mindfulness doesn't make these serene, enjoyable, calm or anything else. It simply allows me to be kind to my experience where before I was so harsh. As a result I am actually very happy.

[FeeHutch]

Am I the only newb on here who sometimes gets more confused as to what, exactly, mindfulness is the more I read this forum?

Could we perhaps have a sub-forum for the dunce element? But no slipper, please Sir.

I don't think you are alone in sometimes find it challenging but that doesn't mean you are a dunce. Sometimes the simple things can still be confusing. People use different words, have their own take on things, view the subject from their own perspective. There aren't stupid questions though and there wouldn't be much to discuss if everyone agreed - as long as discussions are respectful and dare I say mindful of course

[Cheesus]

Am I the only newb on here who sometimes gets more confused as to what, exactly, mindfulness is the more I read this forum?

Could we perhaps have a sub-forum for the dunce element? But no slipper, please Sir.

In addition to what Fee said, the way these different perceptions and experiences play out actually result in slightly differing techniques as well. Try not to hold onto anything anyone says too tightly, and in the moment of practice let go of what the practice 'should' or 'must' be altogether and just let it be your own. As Gill Fronsdal says, people who try to practice perfectly will probably take twice as long to become enlightened (not that enlightenment is necessarily anyone's goal).

Sorry if I am just adding further confusion

[ONE: Deeper Peace]

I don't think you are alone in sometimes find it challenging but that doesn't mean you are a dunce. Sometimes the simple things can still be confusing. People use different words, have their own take on things, view the subject from their own perspective. There aren't stupid questions though and there wouldn't be much to discuss if everyone agreed - as long as discussions are respectful and dare I say mindful of course

the way these different perceptions and experiences play out actually result in slightly differing techniques as well. Try not to hold onto anything anyone says too tightly, and in the moment of practice let go of what the practice 'should' or 'must' be altogether and just let it be your own.

I love both of these things!

And I apologize if I came across as anything but respectful to anyone. I'm a strong believer that there are no stupid questions, and for me, not having learned something yet doesn't mean dunce, it just means we haven't learned something yet. I love learning, and I love that this forum is here to exchange ideas and wisdom. So thank you all for sharing here.

[ONE: Deeper Peace]

Mindfulness is not the absence of chaos. Mindfulness is not the feeling of happiness. Mindfulness is not peace, nor joy, nor silence.

Mindfulness is simply noticing.

It took me so long to figure this out. I was always striving to achieve certain states in mindfulness. It was actually very damaging to me. What I have learnt to do now is simply be kind to the states that do arise. This is particularly important as I suffer from a chronic illness that affects my nervous system resulting in pulsing feelings of tension. Mindfulness doesn't make these serene, enjoyable, calm or anything else. It simply allows me to be kind to my experience where before I was so harsh. As a result I am actually very happy.

Great way to put it. I've found the same, only my challenge is with brain injury. With mindfulness, I have learned a deeper sense of compassion than ever before, which gives me the ability to move through experiences more gently and kindly. Stop trying to make something happen. I can relax into knowing I don't have all of life's answers, and take comfort in no longer even wanting them or feeling like I have to try to attain them. So I put down my weapons (mostly the intellectual ones, and mostly the ones that are pointed directly at myself), and just BE. I'm not happy all the time, but even in sadness or fear or anger I am at peace.

I'm not entirely sure if this is all because of mindfulness practice, or getting older.

[FeeHutch]

One just to clarify, you haven't been anything but respectful and open