By Lars Hofhansl
What I am going to say might seem controversial...
In order to live and accept the current moment we must be without hope, we must be hopeless.
Hope is a measure of how much we want to dismiss the current moment and "hope" for something better in the future.
Now is all there is. No amount of hope is going to change what is. Hope distracts from accepting what is. Only action performed now can change anything in the future.
The only power thoughts have is to draw us away from here and now. Hope is no different, it draws us into the future instead of accepting and staying with what is now.
Giving up hope is difficult but it does not mean that we need to despair. The opposite of hope is not despair, but rather acceptance and patience.
Accepting the moment as is frees us to do whatever is necessary to shape the future.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Mindfulness - Don't be a robot
By Lars Hofhansl
Most humans can be aproximately described with this simple algorithm:
input = getSenseInput()
if input = sad
react sad
if input = agitating
react angry
if input = happy
react happy
... and so on ...
Not much better than being a robot. At no point is there any choice. It's mere habitual re-action.
A person accustomed to some regular reflection on the other hand would be more like this:
input = getSenseInput()
see the situation for what it is
act accordingly
Such a person cannot be described by a simple algorithm, reality does not work this way. It all depends on the details of the situation. (S)he sees every situation for what it is and acts (not react) accordingly.
Every moment is new, it never happened before exactly this way, it cannot be classified into something we have experienced before - it just seems that way.
Each moment warrants a completely new seeing and evaluation about what is and what is the wisest way to act.
Don't be a robot. You have a choice in each moment.
Most humans can be aproximately described with this simple algorithm:
input = getSenseInput()
if input = sad
react sad
if input = agitating
react angry
if input = happy
react happy
... and so on ...
Not much better than being a robot. At no point is there any choice. It's mere habitual re-action.
A person accustomed to some regular reflection on the other hand would be more like this:
input = getSenseInput()
see the situation for what it is
act accordingly
Such a person cannot be described by a simple algorithm, reality does not work this way. It all depends on the details of the situation. (S)he sees every situation for what it is and acts (not react) accordingly.
Every moment is new, it never happened before exactly this way, it cannot be classified into something we have experienced before - it just seems that way.
Each moment warrants a completely new seeing and evaluation about what is and what is the wisest way to act.
Don't be a robot. You have a choice in each moment.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
What is Mindfulness?
By Lars Hofhansl
Recently I responded to a question about "What is Mindfulness?" with something like this:
Mindfulness is awareness.
When eating you're aware that you are eating.
When seeing something you are aware that you are seeing something.
When enjoying the sunset you're aware you're enjoying the sunset.
When thinking you're aware that you are thinking.
When selfish you are aware of that.
When sad you are aware that you are sad... And so on.
On some level it's like "seeing the matrix". Everything is clear, no longer overlaid by thoughts of gain or loss. No more "what's in it for me?"
Everything is wondrous. Everything is just there. There are no questions. There is no "me".
Somehow this just welled up as I typed... In this blog about mindfulness I will share my random ramblings about topics related to mindfulness.
Recently I responded to a question about "What is Mindfulness?" with something like this:
Mindfulness is awareness.
When eating you're aware that you are eating.
When seeing something you are aware that you are seeing something.
When enjoying the sunset you're aware you're enjoying the sunset.
When thinking you're aware that you are thinking.
When selfish you are aware of that.
When sad you are aware that you are sad... And so on.
On some level it's like "seeing the matrix". Everything is clear, no longer overlaid by thoughts of gain or loss. No more "what's in it for me?"
Everything is wondrous. Everything is just there. There are no questions. There is no "me".
Somehow this just welled up as I typed... In this blog about mindfulness I will share my random ramblings about topics related to mindfulness.
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