Lost and looking for a path to take? Try this.

For many years I've been lost as to what I'm supposed to do. I have many interests, and after dropping out of a university program that I didn't like I started 'branching out' - so much so, that I got really confused as to what my path should really be. I was very confused for a long time, but things are coming together a bit more in the past few days, and I want to describe the technique I'm using to find my path.

I found this technique in a book about Zen Buddhism. The author was describing his situation: he had a job he didn't like and was confused as to what path he should take. He engaged in Zen and learned this technique: whenever your mind starts wandering among all the possibilities or paths that you could take, bring it (your mind) back to yourself, i.e. instead of letting your mind wander, focus the attention on your body. Do this whenever your mind starts thinking about stuff (you do not have to be sitting in meditation position) and do it repeatedly throughout the day whenever you remember it. He said he got his answer after 2 months of doing this - it became obvious to him that he wants to become a carpenter.

After reading this I was intrigued, but also disappointed that it would take so long to get the answer. My mind wanders quite a bit and "bringing it back" for God knows how long seemed too much to handle. But after some time I realized I want to try it anyway. I tried it and I got some answers after 5 minutes, and more later on the same day! I will not bore you with the details, but let it suffice that my interests got clarified a lot more and I understand my path in a much better way now. I still have a lot of work to do on it, but I'm on my way at least partially.

Hi philo,

You are saying that you want to be successful in your life. But i wonder for thing, why don't you try to control your own thoughts. Zen Buddhism's concepts are very hard to realize. If you really want to understand, i think first you have to make your mind cool and calm. You know, whatever they say, it is imp. for us, but in against of it demands lot of mental resistance to accept those all concepts. I am not saying you to not follow it. You can do it. But first you control your fully. Otherwise what will you will depend on that stories. Actually, i think there message is totally different. They always says that you have everything within yourselves. Really. YOU have to find yourselves. Go in search of answer who is from inner. Go inner to outside. Your path is not wrong or blind.

Going to follow those paths, you should be ready to understand that all. I feel that so i told you. If you don't understand them fully, then you had wasted your all time.

Ravine,

You don't have to realize any Zen concepts to gain benefit from the technique. You're saying that I should control my own thoughts - well, what I described is exactly a technique for controlling thoughts. It is also a technique for calming thoughts, which is something you say is important. It is not complex either - it's just a simple exercise in mindfulness. You're entitled to your own way of finding out things of course.

I have found mindfulness and meditation and some of the buddhist concepts very helpful in my life. Paying close attention to my life, but without holding onto it too tightly, help me to feel my living of life. And 'nonjudgemental thinking' is also freeing.. just noticing my thoughts and emotions without feeling like I have to analyze and categorize and judge them is also so freeing. Mindfulness helps me to see more clearly, and to relax into my life by letting so many of the nonessentials just go.. let go...

Philo wrote:Ravine,

You don't have to realize any Zen concepts to gain benefit from the technique. You're saying that I should control my own thoughts - well, what I described is exactly a technique for controlling thoughts. It is also a technique for calming thoughts, which is something you say is important. It is not complex either - it's just a simple exercise in mindfulness. You're entitled to your own way of finding out things of course.

Yes,you may be right in your opinion. Others may be. You know most, majority they have many hidden meanings, which we have to find out. Do you know one thing about zen masters? They tell to their devotees about keeping concentration for many long time. At end when time comes and they takes test of them. This point, many devotees become fail. I read one story like this. It was very wonderful.

It is good to have calming techniques. I am glad to know that you have those.