We are now halfway through our book study of Take Your Time. It is wonderful to be absorbing a full book of Easwaran’s together as a spiritual community.
Easwaran begins chapter 5 by discussing the dynamics of likes and dislikes:
“Often, rigid likes and dislikes are merely a matter of attention getting stuck. We get caught in a groove of what we have been conditioned to like or dislike, and we can’t imagine getting free. When we find that others have their attention stuck in their groove too, friction results.
“Usually, without thinking, we react negatively and move away. But we can learn to play with our likes and dislikes instead, and once we taste the freedom this brings, it can be quite enjoyable.”
This week let’s read pages 103–110 and take another small step toward living in freedom.
Which lines particularly strike you, and how can you apply them to your life this week?
The suggestions for practice for chapter 5 are on page 125, and we can start with the first one:
When you find yourself daydreaming – for example, anticipating some special event – bring your full attention back to the present. When the event arrives, focus on it completely. If you find yourself dwelling on it afterwards, bring your mind back to the present again. You’re teaching your mind to enjoy without grasping – and to be present here and now.
And to close, here is a spiritual entertainment treat from Easwaran. In this three-minute video Easwaran shows the importance of learning to train our attention.