If we are able to monitor emotional states such as anxiety and motivation throughout the day, we can also build up, from experience, knowledge of the sets of actions that influence the buildup of such emotions later in the day, e.g. reducing anxiety or increasing anxiety; and so on for other sets of actions that influence other emotional states. For instance, if I organise my TO-DO list earlier in…
In December 2019 I completed a 10-day introductory course in Vipassana Meditation as taught by SN Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin. These are my notes and thoughts on this retreat as compiled afterwards. Overview and rules A quick introduction to this tradition: although they are ‘taught’ by SN Goenka, Goenka himself passed away in 2013. So the teachings are presented as…
Imagine you are an explorer in a desolate, post-apocalyptic landscape who comes across an abandoned house. The occupants are long departed but all their belongings are still there. Which of the objects in the house should you look at first to understand what kind of people the former inhabitants were? My suggestion is that you start by looking over their books. But we don’t have to wait for…