Becoming more disconnected from thinking

[Terell Kirby]

Has anyone else experience this while doing spiritual work?

I notice that deconstructing the act of thinking can feel uncomfortable and comfortable at the same time. It's like I am losing my footing in reality.

When I don't project thoughts on reality, it's like I become a gust of wind..going in whatever direction the Earth wants me to go. 

Anxiety can stem from not wanting to let go of control. It feels good, but can be scary at times. I'm working on getting more and more comfortable with it - there's a science (or art) to going with the flow in life. However, I have realized how attached I am to my thoughts about the future and the past..there is comfort there.

The challenge is getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. Thanks.

Edited October 22, 2021 by Terell Kirby

[Moksha]

Yes. It is disconcerting to dissolve the illusion that we are our thoughts, when we have identified with them all of our lives. The ego thrives on thoughts, and the drama they create. It doesn't go down without a fight. Sometimes I feel like my brain is rewiring itself. It can be dizzying, and you have to pace your progress.

When you discover the serenity of awareness, which is who you actually are, thoughts begin to lose their gravitational pull. Suffering prepares you for this serenity, and when you have suffered enough, you will finally be willing to surrender to the Self.

It's more of an upward spiraling roller coaster than an effortless ascent. Your sincerity will be tested. It's all about the adventure of the ride. ?

[Terell Kirby]

@Moksha thank you for your wisdom ?? . This is beyond helpful.

[Raptorsin7]

In my view thoughts are just a smokescreen screen that distract from the subtle feelings and sensations of the body. Learning to sink into these sensations by sinking into our own aware presence is always the answer. 

If you're ever distracted by thoughts, take a moment to notice if there are any underlying feelings you are resisting. Sometimes it can be quite subtle the feelings and sensations we avoid

[BipolarGrowth]

You can become completely disconnected from thought and operate quite well in life. There’s also nothing wrong with thought itself. Think of it like this. Monkey mind is like leaving your weed whacker on in your garage making noise all night. When it makes sense to use it, use it. That might be 12 hours or 30 minutes. It depends. When it is causing more harm than good, learn to turn it off. 

Edited October 22, 2021 by BipolarGrowth

[Fearless_Bum]

@Terell Kirby when you're disconnected from thought as you say, you're not there at all. 

But when the fear arises, you arise with it ;). 

To put it simply, this is really you playing tug of war with yourself. 

[Terell Kirby]

31 minutes ago, Raptorsin7 said:

In my view thoughts are just a smokescreen screen that distract from the subtle feelings and sensations of the body. Learning to sink into these sensations by sinking into our own aware presence is always the answer. 

If you're ever distracted by thoughts, take a moment to notice if there are any underlying feelings you are resisting. Sometimes it can be quite subtle the feelings and sensations we avoid

Agreed. Thoughts provide meaning to raw sensations that arises in consciousness. The ego can’t live without a box to put these sensations in.

21 minutes ago, BipolarGrowth said:

You can become completely disconnected from thought and operate quite well in life. There’s also nothing wrong with thought itself. Think of it like this. Monkey mind is like leaving your weed whacker on in your garage making noise all night. When it makes sense to use it, use it. That might be 12 hours or 30 minutes. It depends. When it is causing more harm than good, learn to turn it off. 

great analogy 

[kamwalker]

1 hour ago, Moksha said:

Yes. It is disconcerting to dissolve the illusion that we are our thoughts, when we have identified with them all of our lives. The ego thrives on thoughts, and the drama they create. It doesn't go down without a fight. Sometimes I feel like my brain is rewiring itself. It can be dizzying, and you have to pace your progress.

When you discover the serenity of awareness, which is who you actually are, thoughts begin to lose their gravitational pull. Suffering prepares you for this serenity, and when you have suffered enough, you will finally be willing to surrender to the Self.

It's more of an upward spiraling roller coaster than an effortless ascent. Your sincerity will be tested. It's all about the adventure of the ride. ?

It is such an incredible feeling when you feel yourself becoming more and more aware of the distinction between thought and Self. So many “problems” that would have affected you in the past just vanish.  It’s magical and beautiful 

[WokeBloke]

1 hour ago, Fearless_Bum said:

@Terell Kirby when you're disconnected from thought as you say, you're not there at all. 

But when the fear arises, you arise with it ;). 

To put it simply, this is really you playing tug of war with yourself. 

You are there even without thoughts. Simply stop thinking for 3 seconds and notice that you remain (non conceptually) without thoughts. Then you start thinking again.

[Fearless_Bum]

@WokeBloke nope, no one there.

[Moksha]

@Terell Kirby ?

@kamwalker So true. After years of suffering in the maelstrom of the mind, how liberating to discover the Self at the still center of the storm.

[Breakingthewall]

thoughts are the bricks of that building which is the ego. you have believed that that building is you and the sensation of being without them is of the vertigo of the lack of control. that vertigo gives me more and more pleasure every time. much more beautiful to live in the wild nature than in an artificial building full of barriers and rules

[Terell Kirby]

39 minutes ago, Breakingthewall said:

thoughts are the bricks of that building which is the ego. you have believed that that building is you and the sensation of being without them is of the vertigo of the lack of control. that vertigo gives me more and more pleasure every time. much more beautiful to live in the wild nature than in an artificial building full of barriers and rules

Yes..a different kind of vertigo for certain 

[Guest Bazooka Jesus]

19 hours ago, Terell Kirby said:

I notice that deconstructing the act of thinking can feel uncomfortable and comfortable at the same time.

Yup, I know what you mean. It's kind of like being a recovering heroin junkie who feels the relief of finally being able to live without the needle while simultaneously going through all kinds of weird and trippy withdrawal symptoms.

Welp, nobody said this was going to be easy... 

Edited October 22, 2021 by Bazooka Jesus

[kamwalker]

4 hours ago, Breakingthewall said:

thoughts are the bricks of that building which is the ego. you have believed that that building is you and the sensation of being without them is of the vertigo of the lack of control. that vertigo gives me more and more pleasure every time. much more beautiful to live in the wild nature than in an artificial building full of barriers and rules

Nice. I also like to view it such that reality is like a beautiful landscape. Thought is a layer of cloud that overlays it. When you're unaware of thought you assume the overlay over the landscape is normal and just the way it is. Then as you become more conscious and aware of thought you gain this ability to see through the overlay and gaze into pure reality. The overlay/thought is still there but has little effect on your view of the landscape because you can now see right through it.