dust
sand
beaches
deserts
atoms
cells
animals
humans
earth
worlds
galaxies
universes
actions
thoughts
feelings
i
let
them
dissolve
rest
om
i am that
look
who
is
seeing
i
am
listen
who
is
hearing
i
am
i
am
that
om
beneath the din
I am
here
beneath
the din
unnoticed
in
silence
om
opinion
have
no
opinion
about
yourself
om
practice: energy tracking
each
evening
pause
reflect
on the
emotions
of the day
what did
you feel
reaction
upset
shift
joy
write it
down
not to
fix
not to
change
just to see
how did
it feel
at first
it may be
difficult
stay
with it
each
evening
for
20 days
then
in the
middle
of the day
pause
reflect
on the
emotions
of the
morning
write it
down
in the
evening
write
again
for
20 days
you may
not
remember
that is
fine
you may
begin
to notice
emotion
as it
arises
before
you are
lost
om
listen
if
you
are
thinking
you
are
not
listening
om
self
higher
self
is
not
higher
and
not
self
it
is
om
source
personalities
do not
have a
soul
soul
has
infinite
personalities
om
seated
here
be empty
nothing to be
nothing to prove
set all
aside
be
here
now
peace
om
inward to peace
as one
moves
outward
to grow
one
moves
inward
to
peace
is this
a paradox
growth
is often
imagined as
striving
expanding
reaching outward
peace
is often
imagined as
stillness
silence
return
are they
opposites
one
engages
life
to grow
through
relationship
through
challenge
through
the full range of
human
experience
responding
to reality
moment
by
moment
growth
is the
soul
discovering
peace
through
personality
learning
as reality
unfolds
peace
remains
as one
grows
one
softens
samskaras
dissolve
old patterns
lose
their hold
the mind
quiets
the heart
becomes
lighter
peace
is
always
here
growth
and
peace
are
one
one
unfolding
we grow
outward
returning
inward
we engage
life
to discover
stillness
we move
through
the world
coming
home
to soul
om
what comes first, thought or emotion
The relationship between thought and emotion is more dynamic than it first appears. Sometimes thought gives rise to emotion. At other times emotion comes first and thought follows. Understanding how mind, heart, and awareness interact can help step out of this cycle.
what
causes
what
does thought
trigger emotion
or does emotion
trigger thought
can both
be true
when
presented
with
reality
the ego
may respond
with
thought
-this is wrong
-this is perfect
these
thoughts
can stir
emotion
-fear
-anger
-happiness
heart rate
rises
chest tightens
breath shortens
however
when
presented
with
reality
the heart
may respond
with
emotion
the
mind
jumps in
with
its stories
-what is wrong
-this is wonderful
thought
is of mind
and
may begin
the
dance
emotion
is of heart
they interact
constantly
but they originate
in different parts
of our inner being
most of the time
thought and emotion
are not separate
They trigger
and reinforce
each other
thought triggers
emotion
emotion fuels
thought
the cycle continues
ego maintains
its hold
where is the way out
awareness
when one observes
-a thought just arose
-a feeling just arose
one is no longer
caught
in the
cycle
one is
witnessing
from stillness
we are not thought
we are not emotion
we are the space
in which both
arise and pass
summary
-ego generates thought
-thought may evoke emotion
-heart generates emotion
-emotion may evoke thought
the practice
is not to control
the practice
is to watch
and put
them
aside
without
clinging
or
resistance
om