Week 5

Video 1: Anthony De Mello on "Self-Observation"

1. What is the most important thing you can do when no one can help you?

Self observation

2. What is the difference between self-observation and self-absorption? What is self-observation?

Self absorption is self preoccupation. Self observation is to watch everything in you and around you as if it were happening to someone else. You don’t personalize anything happening to you.

3. Why do we suffer?

We identify with our emotions. We say, “I am depressed” instead of “I am experiencing depression”.

4. Anthony De Mello uses the analogy of the sky and clouds to speak about the relationship between our true "self" and our thoughts/emotions/different states of life. How does he define the the self/"I"?

He says that the “self” is like the sky. It watches the clouds change through out the days. Just watches.

5. If you understand things they will do what?

They change without needing fixing.

6. Finish the sentence from 5.25: "What you judge you ...."

Cannot understand.

Reflection: 

7. What do you think about DeMello's statement, "I am not my depression, I am not my joy?" Who/What is the "I" that can say, "I am not myself?" Make a list of your most precious qualities and character traits. Does that list account for everything that is your "I?" If not, why not?

The most interesting part of this reflection, for me, is that I can’t agree with him saying, “I am not my depression”, or “I am not my joy”. It’s true that we experience emotions and we are not emotions, but if we take away our emotions, we don’t feel anything, right? Aren’t our emotions parts of what make us human? Isn’t feeling emotion part of the reason we do art? Sure, the “I” saying “I am not myself” might just be our egos, but that doesn’t mean we should just observe it. We should feel it.

Character traits:

Optimistic, easy going, funny, happy, kind, hard working, artistic, intelligent, clumsy, stubborn, brave and free spirited.

I don’t think this list accounts for all of my “I”. I’m sure there’s more that I haven’t discovered yet. I’m sure my emotions will help me discover more about myself and others.  




Video 2: Ted Talk by Angela Bradshaw on the "Alexander Technique"


1.  What happens to us when we experience fear, stress and anxiety? Why?

We compress. It’s our natural “fight or flight” survival instinct.

2. (minute 3.15ish) The Alexander Technique does what?

Enables us to choose a different response, one that is more applicable to our stressful circumstances.

3. Finish the sentence (4:10ish) "Nature would prefer...."

To be in balance

4. What are the three points of contact for the foot?

The bug toe, the little toe and the heel.

5. What are the three hinges in our legs?

The ankle, the knee and the top of the thigh

6. Where are the hip joints?

A third of the way between your pubic bone and your hip cress.

7. Allow the pelvis to be heavy like a(n) .....?

Anchor!

8. Where is the top of the spine?

In between your ears.


Reflection:

9. What, according to your view of the world, is the connection between your mind and body?

My body is the tool my mind uses to learn. They work together to experience people, places and things. They can’t exist without each other.

Week 4

Video 1 - Playing the Game of Life, by Alan Watts

Note: Alan Watts was a scholar and speaker who wrote extensively on Zen back in the 60's and 70's.

1. What does our society tell children?

Society tell our children that they have to solve a problem, and that problem is: What are you going to do about your future? How can you prepare best so that you can have lots of money for the unpredictable future?

2. What is our society's "preparation for life?"

Every second of the day is preparing for the next “stage” of life. For example, kindergarten prepares you for first grade.

3. When one arrives, Watts claims that he or she often feels cheated. Why?

Because! You will never be satisfied! We are programed to believe that there is always something better in the future that we need to prepare for. If you are always thinking that, you can never be satisfied, or grateful for the present moment.

4. What is the final goal of our society?

Retirement

5. What is the problem with living ever for the future?

We all are victims of this. Everyone thinks that the grass is always greener on the other side. I know I have a horrible habit of making really big changes in my life, hoping that it will make me happier. The problem is this: As a society, we do not place value in activities that don’t prepare you to make money to have a secure future. We think that having money will make us happy, but it can only make you happy, I think, if you spend it on activities that make you happy, like art. For example, my dad spends his extra money on his guitars. He’ll never be a rock star, but being with his music gives him time at the end of the day to live in the moment. That’s why he’s such a chill guy.

Video 2: The Secret of Life 

1. What is the Chinese word for nature? What does it mean?

Zìrán, it means, that which happens of itself, not under any control of an outside force.

2. According to Watts, you stop the spontaneous flowering of nature if you do what to it?

Try to control it.

3. According to Watts, what are human beings?

We are spontaneous creatures! Like flowers

4. What is the secret of life according to Watts?

To be completely focused on the here and now, and be happy because you are doing what you love to do.

Video 3: You're Already Awesome

Note: Dr. Judson Brewer is a professor at Yale University's department of psychiatry.

1. What was Dr. Brewer's experience of flow?

When he was riding a bike trail.

2. According to the Harvard study mentioned by Brewer, what percentage of time do we get caught of up thinking?

50%!

3. Finish the sentence: "A wandering mind is an unhappy mind"

4. What happens to the brain during meditation?

Basically, the part of your brain that is usually active when you are stressed gets smaller or disappears all together.

5. In nine minutes, the test subject mentioned by Brewer learned the difference between what?
Between thinking about breathing and feeling the breath.

Reflection Question:

Reflection question:

Was there an idea in any of these talks that stood out to you? If so, what was it and why?

I really like the idea of taking time out of our day to do what really makes us happy. I think that doing what makes you happy gets you into flow and makes you focus on the present moment. Whether it is yoga or playing a sport or practicing art, doing something that doesn’t prepare you for life’s next phase (like Watts says in his video) is good for your inner self and your brain.