The practice
When you find that a desire or a piece of thinking is already underway, do not try to end it. Simply stop feeding it any further reflection, and turn instead to the awareness in which it is appearing. Take that awareness to be what you are.
What it works on
This is the practical companion to the previous dharana, for the far commoner case where you catch the thing late. Nothing has to be suppressed; attention is moved from the content to what is holding it.
Notes
- Much more usable in daily life than practices that require catching a thought at its start.
Practise gently
Shoonyaka offers educational and contemplative material, not medical, psychological or religious authority. Nothing here diagnoses or treats any condition. Stop any practice that leaves you dizzy, frightened or unwell, and treat a strong reaction as a reason to rest rather than to push on.