Reasonable Mind is cool, rational, and task focused. When in reasonable mind, you are ruled by facts, reason, logic, and pragmatics. Values and feelings are not important.
Emotional Mind is hot, mood-dependent, emotion focused. When in emotion mind, you are ruled by your moods, feelings, and urges to do or say things. Facts, reason, and logic are not important.
Wise Mind is the wisdom within each person. Seeing the value of both reason and emotion. Bringing left brain and right brain together, the middle path.
You must go within and integrate the two (thoughts and feelings). Wise mind is that part of each person that can know and experience the truth. It is where the person knows something to be true or valid. It is most always quiet. It has a certain peace. It is where a person knows something in a centered way. Wise mind depends on integrating all of the ways of knowing something by observing, analyzing logically and by experiencing our body sensations.
We work towards a balance between the reasonable mind and the emotional mind.
Ideas for Practicing Wise Mind
The mindfulness skills often require a lot of practice. As with any new skill, it is important to first practice when you don't need the skill. If you practice in easier situations, the skill will become automatic and you will have the skill when you need it. Practice with your eyes closed and with your eyes open.
1. Stone flake on the lake. Imagine that you are by a clear blue lake on a beautiful sunny day. Then imagine that you are a small flake of stone, flat and light. Imagine that you have been tossed out onto the lake and are now gently, slowly, floating through the calm, clear blue water to the lake's smooth, sandy bottom.
- Notice what you see, what you feel as you float down, perhaps in slow circles, floating toward the bottom. As you reach the bottom of the lake, settle your attention there within yourself.
- Notice the serenity of the lake; become aware of this calmness and quiet deep within.
- As you reach the center of yourself, settle your attention there.
2. Walking down the spiral stairs. Imagine that within you is a spiral staircase, winding down to your very center. Starting at the top walk very slowly down the staircase, going deeper and deeper within yourself.
- Notice the sensations. Rest by sitting on a step, or turn on lights on the way down if you wish. Do not force yourself further than you want to go. Notice the quiet. As you reach the center of yourself, settle your attention there - perhaps in your gut or abdomen.
3. Breathing "Wise" In, "Mind" Out. Breathing in, say to yourself, "Wise"; breathing out, say "Mind".
- Focus your entire attention on the word "wise", then, focus it again entirely on the word "mind".
- Continue until you have a sense that you have settled in to Wise Mind.
4. Asking Wise Mind a question. Breathing in, silently ask Wise Mind a question.
- Breathing out, listen for an answer.
- Listen, but do not give yourself the answer. Do not tell yourself the answer, listen for it.
- Continue asking on each in-breath for some time. If no answer comes, try again another time.
Emotional Mind is hot, mood-dependent, emotion focused. When in emotion mind, you are ruled by your moods, feelings, and urges to do or say things. Facts, reason, and logic are not important.
Wise Mind is the wisdom within each person. Seeing the value of both reason and emotion. Bringing left brain and right brain together, the middle path.
You must go within and integrate the two (thoughts and feelings). Wise mind is that part of each person that can know and experience the truth. It is where the person knows something to be true or valid. It is most always quiet. It has a certain peace. It is where a person knows something in a centered way. Wise mind depends on integrating all of the ways of knowing something by observing, analyzing logically and by experiencing our body sensations.
We work towards a balance between the reasonable mind and the emotional mind.
Ideas for Practicing Wise Mind
The mindfulness skills often require a lot of practice. As with any new skill, it is important to first practice when you don't need the skill. If you practice in easier situations, the skill will become automatic and you will have the skill when you need it. Practice with your eyes closed and with your eyes open.
1. Stone flake on the lake. Imagine that you are by a clear blue lake on a beautiful sunny day. Then imagine that you are a small flake of stone, flat and light. Imagine that you have been tossed out onto the lake and are now gently, slowly, floating through the calm, clear blue water to the lake's smooth, sandy bottom.
- Notice what you see, what you feel as you float down, perhaps in slow circles, floating toward the bottom. As you reach the bottom of the lake, settle your attention there within yourself.
- Notice the serenity of the lake; become aware of this calmness and quiet deep within.
- As you reach the center of yourself, settle your attention there.
2. Walking down the spiral stairs. Imagine that within you is a spiral staircase, winding down to your very center. Starting at the top walk very slowly down the staircase, going deeper and deeper within yourself.
- Notice the sensations. Rest by sitting on a step, or turn on lights on the way down if you wish. Do not force yourself further than you want to go. Notice the quiet. As you reach the center of yourself, settle your attention there - perhaps in your gut or abdomen.
3. Breathing "Wise" In, "Mind" Out. Breathing in, say to yourself, "Wise"; breathing out, say "Mind".
- Focus your entire attention on the word "wise", then, focus it again entirely on the word "mind".
- Continue until you have a sense that you have settled in to Wise Mind.
4. Asking Wise Mind a question. Breathing in, silently ask Wise Mind a question.
- Breathing out, listen for an answer.
- Listen, but do not give yourself the answer. Do not tell yourself the answer, listen for it.
- Continue asking on each in-breath for some time. If no answer comes, try again another time.
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