One of the first new memories I have, is of reading about the "voices in the head" and wondering if this was really true. I remember asking myself how people function with all the conflicting options swirling in their head. I thought my mind was empty. It wasn't. It was just talking to me in a language I didn't understand.
As I slowly get back into a routine of reading and writing (and adhering to deadlines), the "voices" become more apparent. I can see the ego strengthen with every little praise, and put itself on display with every little criticism. There's also an autopilot urge to react to everything. It's like seeing with the mind. The eyes do the watching, the mind does the talking.
My first reaction was to control this urge to react. The problem with that approach is that one can never be in control all the time. Spiritually speaking, controlling is something we do at the physical level.
To go the distance, you need to be Mindful. To be mindful, you need to be Aware. To be aware, you need to be Alert. To be alert, you need to Concentrate. What's the difference? When I'm meditating in the car, I close my eyes and am mindful. I roll up the windows, and I am aware. I lock the doors, and I am alert. But when I've developed concentration, I wouldn't have to.
Dad pointed me to Bhante Gunaratana's Mindfulness in Plain English, which is a wonderful HOWTO on meditation, mindfulness and concentration.
