The topic at one glance
- The reason we fall into addiction is our mind has been tricking us.
- Just knowing our mind has been tricking us is not enough to stop our mind from tricking us тАУ we have to see the trick.
- We can develop the 7 Factors of Enligtement through meditation practice, and these allow us to see how we have been tricked by our mind.
Seeing that Frees Us from Addiction
I used to wonder if my brain was deliberately working against me. How else could I explain the regular transitions from sincere determination to quit alcohol one minute to deciding to go on another bender the next? I now understand it was not that my brain was defective or trying to harm me, it had just fallen victim to a trick.
My brain had been tricked in much the same way as a na├пve investor might get caught out by a sophisticated pyramid scheme. The saddest thing in this situation is that by the time investors become suspicious, they are usually too heavily invested to pay heed to these suspicions тАУ itтАЩs the same with addiction.
Knowing your brain has been the victim of trick may be helpful, but it is usually only when we understand the trick that we can fully escape and avoid falling into the same trap again in the future. The goal of mindfulness/insight practice is to give us the ability to see how we have been tricked.
The Seven Factors of Enlightenment
If you wish to protect your brain from harmful delusions, you will need to gain insight into how you are being tricked. This type of understanding is far more likely to arise in a state of mental clarity, focus, and non-reactivity (i.e. we need to put aside our tendency to habitually react prior to investigation).
The easiest way to promote the growth of insight is to meditate regularly. This needs to be done in a certain way if we hope to achieve the best results. The┬атАШ7 factors of enlightenmentтАЩ┬аare attitudes and mental states that together will greatly increase the likelihood of insight during meditation and include:
- Mindfulness┬аmeans remebering to recognize what your brain is doing at any given moment (e.g. fantasizing, getting angry, or listening).
- Concentration┬аrequires keeping your attention on the object of the meditation (e.g. the sensation of the breath). Concentration is like a lamp, the stronger it is, the more of the mind we can see.
- Curiosity┬аmeans investigating what is arising in our mind with close attention and interest.
- Tranquility┬аarises as we calm down mental activity through concentration and equanimity.
- Energy┬аgives us the ability to make progress towards insight (it can be increased through other factors such as curiosity and joy).
- Joy┬аarises in meditation as we relax the body and let go.┬аFocusing on this joy can move us into an even deeper state of stillness.
- Equanimity┬аis a non-reactive mind state that allows us to more clearly see what our mind is doing so we can develop insight.
Was this useful? If it was, you could help us by sharing it?┬а
Other Topics That Might Interest You
Toxic Love – How Poisonous Relationships Can Destroy Mental Health
A toxic relationship can be a bit like drinking contaminated water. It may seem to quench our thirst, but it is also making us sick.
The Hidden Impact of Attachment Styles on Relationships
An insecure attachment style can be like a bucket full of holes. It doesn’t matter how much water you put in there, the bucket continues to feel empty.
Singing Bowl Therapy
Sound therapy is based on the idea that vibration is a foundational principle of our universe. We can use sound as an aid to meditation and relaxation.
What Saint Patrick Can Teach Us About Hope
Saint Patrick is a wonderful example of the power of hope. Being kidnapped at a young age is highly traumatizing, yet he returned a hero.
The Joy of Climbing Your Own Personal Everest
It is by overcoming incredible challenges that we become better able to deal with life. This realization is often what is driving climbers of Mountain Everest. It is never about life becoming easier, but about us becoming better at navigating it.
