Anatta and the Practice of Keeping a Log - Discussion
Anatta and the Practice of Keeping a Log
Auntie Antei, modified 1 Month ago at 12/23/24 11:02 AM
Created 1 Month ago at 12/23/24 9:25 AM
Anatta and the Practice of Keeping a Log
Posts: 31 Join Date: 12/20/24 Recent Posts
I've been keeping logs in various ways for a few years, and when I started this retreat (two months into a three-month solo retreat) I decided to not keep a log so as not to reinforce any sense of "me doing." However, after a couple weeks I started logging anyway and plan to share once my retreat is finished. I'm now considering stopping the logging again and want to ask my fellow loggers for feedback on the pros and cons of logging with regard specifically to anatta.
I can see some pros with sharing a log in that it's liberating to release this intimately experienced material, in other words, rather than guarding it like some precious me-treasure it goes out into the wind like any other dust.
But I find the practice of logging itself distracting -- First of all while I'm on the cushion it's very hard not to take notes and think "Ooh that's interesting I'll have to put that in the log when I get up!" and then after sitting the transition to whatever's next (walking, usually) is interrupted by this self-reflection.
I assume I'm not the first person here to consider this so please feel free to point me towards other threads or resources that may be out there. I'd love to hear about your personal experience dealing with this whether you are also a logger, anatta is important to your practice, or you've just given this some thought and have anything to share.
I can see some pros with sharing a log in that it's liberating to release this intimately experienced material, in other words, rather than guarding it like some precious me-treasure it goes out into the wind like any other dust.
But I find the practice of logging itself distracting -- First of all while I'm on the cushion it's very hard not to take notes and think "Ooh that's interesting I'll have to put that in the log when I get up!" and then after sitting the transition to whatever's next (walking, usually) is interrupted by this self-reflection.
I assume I'm not the first person here to consider this so please feel free to point me towards other threads or resources that may be out there. I'd love to hear about your personal experience dealing with this whether you are also a logger, anatta is important to your practice, or you've just given this some thought and have anything to share.
Geoffrey Gatekeeper of the Gateless Gate, modified 1 Month ago at 12/23/24 9:36 AM
Created 1 Month ago at 12/23/24 9:33 AM
RE: Anatta and the Practice of Keeping a Log
Posts: 738 Join Date: 10/30/23 Recent PostsBut I find the practice of logging itself distracting -- First of all while I'm on the cushion it's very hard not to take notes and think "Ooh that's interesting I'll have to put that in the log when I get up!" and then after sitting the transition to whatever's next (walking, usually) is interrupted by this self-reflection.
It sounds like when this happens you have touched on something your mind is dying to investigate!
I get the sense that this may correspond to something interesting happening phenologically, and then your mind is very curious, so it starts thinking about it and wanting to log about it in an attempt to be able to verbalize something previously underknown.
Chris M, modified 1 Month ago at 12/23/24 4:39 PM
Created 1 Month ago at 12/23/24 4:39 PM
RE: Anatta and the Practice of Keeping a Log
Posts: 5604 Join Date: 1/26/13 Recent Posts
Auntie, I posted this in another topic you created today, but without knowing what your practice consists of, it will be difficult to provide helpful comments. For example, if you're doing a noting practice, I would suggest that you note the intrusive nature of your thoughts about noting. If you're doing a concentration practice, I would suggest you try to ignore those thoughts and just focus back tonyour object of concentration.
Can you fill us in a little bit on the methods you use, how often you sit, and how long you've been at this?
Thanks!
Can you fill us in a little bit on the methods you use, how often you sit, and how long you've been at this?
Thanks!
Jim Smith, modified 1 Month ago at 12/24/24 7:32 PM
Created 1 Month ago at 12/24/24 7:11 PM
RE: Anatta and the Practice of Keeping a Log
Posts: 1830 Join Date: 1/17/15 Recent PostsAuntie Antei I've been keeping logs in various ways for a few years, and when I started this retreat (two months into a three-month solo retreat) I decided to not keep a log so as not to reinforce any sense of "me doing." However, after a couple weeks I started logging anyway and plan to share once my retreat is finished. I'm now considering stopping the logging again and want to ask my fellow loggers for feedback on the pros and cons of logging with regard specifically to anatta.
I can see some pros with sharing a log in that it's liberating to release this intimately experienced material, in other words, rather than guarding it like some precious me-treasure it goes out into the wind like any other dust.
But I find the practice of logging itself distracting -- First of all while I'm on the cushion it's very hard not to take notes and think "Ooh that's interesting I'll have to put that in the log when I get up!" and then after sitting the transition to whatever's next (walking, usually) is interrupted by this self-reflection.
I assume I'm not the first person here to consider this so please feel free to point me towards other threads or resources that may be out there. I'd love to hear about your personal experience dealing with this whether you are also a logger, anatta is important to your practice, or you've just given this some thought and have anything to share.
I can see some pros with sharing a log in that it's liberating to release this intimately experienced material, in other words, rather than guarding it like some precious me-treasure it goes out into the wind like any other dust.
But I find the practice of logging itself distracting -- First of all while I'm on the cushion it's very hard not to take notes and think "Ooh that's interesting I'll have to put that in the log when I get up!" and then after sitting the transition to whatever's next (walking, usually) is interrupted by this self-reflection.
I assume I'm not the first person here to consider this so please feel free to point me towards other threads or resources that may be out there. I'd love to hear about your personal experience dealing with this whether you are also a logger, anatta is important to your practice, or you've just given this some thought and have anything to share.
You should not avoid things only because they give you a feeling of "me-doing". When you do something that gives you that feeling you should look at it and try to see how it arises. There are different ways to approach anatta, one is to learn from experience what happens when you stop making self with your mind, another is to learn from experience how the mind makes self. There is no reason not to use both of these approaches. (But I am very careful when doing techniques where you try to stop something because it can lead to suppressing thoughts and emotions in a way that is counterproductive.)
When I used to go on retreats we were not supposed to read novels but we could read books on Buddhism and meditation. So I think the same idea would apply to keeping a log. If you are writing to help clarify or remember your experience it should be okay.
Also when on retreats we were not supposed to talk because talking can create mental turbulence (stimulate verbal thinking) and after meditating all day to quiet the mind, talking would undo all that effort. So try to notice if keeping a log creates unhelpful mental turbulence - you might want to limit it for that reason.
If you share it, it can be from generosity but it can also be ego gratifying. So you should know if it is one or the other or both. Not judging, just knowing what is really going on. If you find ego involvement, look into that and try to see how it arises.
Adi Vader, modified 1 Month ago at 12/24/24 9:09 PM
Created 1 Month ago at 12/24/24 9:09 PM
RE: Anatta and the Practice of Keeping a Log
Posts: 415 Join Date: 6/29/20 Recent PostsPapa Che Dusko, modified 1 Month ago at 12/25/24 10:58 AM
Created 1 Month ago at 12/25/24 10:58 AM
RE: Anatta and the Practice of Keeping a Log
Posts: 3342 Join Date: 3/1/20 Recent Posts
"it's liberating to release this intimately experienced material, in other words, rather than guarding it like some precious me-treasure it goes out into the wind like any other dust. "
Just like a fart in the wind!
Oh I love you Auntie!
I've had such a good laugh! Thank you for that!
Just like a fart in the wind!



Papa Che Dusko, modified 1 Month ago at 12/25/24 11:04 AM
Created 1 Month ago at 12/25/24 11:04 AM
RE: Anatta and the Practice of Keeping a Log
Posts: 3342 Join Date: 3/1/20 Recent PostsAuntie Antei, modified 15 Days ago at 1/21/25 6:00 PM
Created 15 Days ago at 1/21/25 6:00 PM
RE: Anatta and the Practice of Keeping a Log
Posts: 31 Join Date: 12/20/24 Recent Posts
Super helpful, thank you. I'm so glad I started posting here, and the practice of keeping a log, like the practice of meditation, is unfolding in its own way and granting insights of its own. I really appreciate the clarity as well as the humor, and everyone's generosity with contributing attention and feedback.