CHOICE

CHOICE

As we meditate, we become aware of our various brain highways. Some are very repetitive. Others pull strongly trying to get our attention. As we sit with the breath and include the body, we can better observe the thoughts, feelings and body sensations, which run through the inner brainscape.

Last week I suggested that NAMING was a way to gain recognition of various thoughts, feelings and body sensations. What have you noticed? Usually there are a limited number of brain highways, which over time become very repetitive. As you continue to practice meditation, some of the brain highways will be like watching Star Wars for the 100th time. In time, these typical brain events we have can become boring.

As we observe these thoughts, we begin to recognize that thoughts are not facts. Thoughts are no more than ideas or events in the brainscape. We can CHOOSE which ones to act on or believe. We do not have to believe our thoughts just because they are there. Usually, we are not thinking the thoughts; they just come from some place and return there. Let’s face it; some of the thoughts running through our minds make no sense whatsoever. So, it would be foolish to base our actions upon them. Thoughts are events in the brain. They do not necessarily indicate truth.

As we observe the inner happenings, we begin to experience a certain freedom to CHOOSE which thoughts, feelings and body sensations to believe and act on. It is very important to be mindful of what we choose to believe. Just because we think such and such does not make it true. Let me give you a few historical examples.

In 1519, the Aztec empire was vast. Montezuma was king. When he heard white men with horses and armour had arrived on the east coast, he THOUGHT his creator god, Quetzalcoatl had returned along with other gods. He invited this god right into the middle of his capital city. Unfortunately for King Montezuma, these gods were Spanish conquistadors led by Cortez. Montezuma ignored one very important fact; these men did not speak his language. Because he CHOSE to believe these men were gods, he ushered in the downfall of the Aztec Empire whose cities were more vast than those in Spain. What we choose to believe impacts our lives.

In the early 17th century, Galileo explored the solar system with a telescope and was one of a handful of scientists who said the earth revolved around the sun. 1n 1633, he was tried for heresy by the Inquisition of Pope Urban V11 because the Pope believed the sun revolved around the earth. There is an apocryphal story in which Galileo meets the Pope and suggests the Pope borrow his telescope to make his own determination. It is reputed the Pope replied, “Aristotle has spoken, I do not need to look through that instrument.” What we choose to believe has consequences.

Mindfulness lets us experience reality as it is without a lot of univestigated presuppositions.

Let’s look at a modern situation. From my perspective, George W. Bush walked around as if he is the best president the Americans ever had. This perspective may be an error. However, let’s say it is so for a moment. Now, I think George W. has been a problem as a president. Is George’s W. Bush’s thought that he was a great president a fact? Obviously not. Is my thought that he was a disaster a fact? No. Mindfulness helps us observe our thoughts as thoughts and not as facts. I CHOOSE to believe he was a problem.

The same is true for feelings. I feel my daughter is the best daughter in the world. Is this feeling an objective fact? No. As I reflect on this intense feeling, it suggests to me that I dearly love my daughter. I choose to believe we have a loving father – daughter relationship.

The same can be true of body sensations. I was experiencing numbness, paralysis and burning pain in my left knee. I went to my family physician. He examined me and said, “There is no problem with your knee.” I was seeing a specialist for my right knee and asked him to examine my left knee. He also said there was no problem. I was upset because my left knee was causing more problems than my right knee, which needed an operation. My doctor ordered an MRI. It turns out I have disc problems in my back which is causing my knee to feel numbing pain and paralyzed. An osteopath told me, “Pain is a liar. Where you feel it may not be where it is.” It is best to observe body sensations but not necessarily give them your faith. Once again, it is our choice what to believe about body sensations.

As we continue to name the brain events we experience, we give ourselves space in which we can CHOOSE what thoughts, feelings or body sensations to believe and act on. Sitting meditation is challenging but it is designed to help us improve our skill in observation and naming. As we practice mindfulness meditation and watch the inner cinema, we can let our thoughts and feelings flow past scene by scene. Some will be more compelling than others but as we stay connected to the breath, perhaps we can learn to let them pass.

What we choose to believe will influence what we do. If we choose to believe no one cares about us, we will be unable to see that people do. That choice blinds us to what we are experiencing. If we tell ourselves we hate winter, well, winter may be even more challenging than it is. There are many brain events. They are incessant like car advertising telling us this car is better than that one. Be wise about which brain events you believe for how you feel about you and others will be determined by which ones you CHOOSE to believe.

Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G, & Teasdale, J. D. (2002). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression. New York: Guilford Press.

2 Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full Catastrophe Living: The program of stress reduction clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre. New York: Delta Book.