“The Zen meditative approach has a simple, unstated premise: moods and attitudes shape—determine—what we think and perceive. If we feel happy, we tend to develop certain trains of thought. If we feel sad or angry, still others. But suppose, with training, we become nonattached to distractions and learn to dampen these wild, emotional swings on either side of equanimity. Then we can enter that serene awareness which is the natural soil for positive, spontaneous personal growth, often called spiritual growth.” IfsThinkingFeelsStillsSpiritualCertainSidesGrowthNaturalSimpleAttitudeLearningSadnessAwarenessEmotionalShapesApproachTrainingAngryTrainPersonal GrowthDetermineHappyMoodPerceiveSoilSpiritual GrowthDistractionSwingsSpontaneousPremisesSereneEquanimityTrain Of Thought Book:Zen and the Brain: Toward an Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness Source: Zen and the Brain: Toward an Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness
“Emotions are not 'bad.' At the roots of our emotions are primal energies which can be put to fruitful use. Indeed...the energies of enlightenment arises from the very same natural origins as those which give rise to our everyday passions and emotions.” GivingUsePassionEnergyNaturalEmotionEnlightenmentRootsEverydayArisePrimal Author:James H. Austin