Home Learn to meditate Colors of your mind

Colors of your mind

APPLIES TO: The Learn to meditate series FOR: anyone able to learn meditation See T.O.C.

Instructions

NOTE
The purpose of this step is:
  • to become acquainted with your mind's habits
  • to develop awareness of and appreciation for the helpful qualities of mind
In a formal practice, this step aligns with the third tetrad of the Anapanasati Sutta, which teaches the contemplation and conditioning of the citta. The process is as follows:
  1. notice whether your mind has superior or inferior awareness by
    • seeing whether you are clear or focused or
    • noticing whether you are collected or distracted
  2. appreciate your ability and feel glad that you reached this level of meditation
  3. concentrate your mind further
  4. learn about your attachments and difficulties to either work beyond them or simply be with yourself as things are
  1. Get to know your mind's habits by observing them without judgment.
    NOTE Click the information icon (shown below) on the right of the interface to show a popup with definitions:  Information icon
    1. Select whether you are "foggy" or "clear" and whether you are "distracted" or "focused"
      TIP If things are slipping your notice, choose foggy. If you are alert and catching details, choose clear. If you feel pulled in many directions, choose distracted. If you are able to concentrate, choose focused.
    2. Choose a color that represents your predominant feeling
    3. Check the graph to see your newly added dot
      NOTE The closer the dot is to the orange line, the better it is for your health and decision-making.
      If your dot didn't place close to the line, it's okay. Remember:
      • the online nature of this guide led you to complete the steps faster than in a formal practice, which would have resulted in more relaxation—try lengthening your task times
      • the fact that you can identify the various qualities of mind is reason to feel good—contemplate that for a few moments
  2. Click "Next" to begin "Cultivating wisdom."
    NOTE
    Before continuing to the last step,
    1. concentrate your mind more
    2. look at the ways in which your mind is attached, for example, whether an angry thought or a worry replays itself—be curious about your mind's tendency to get attached