"Well,
rather we acknowledge that things which we think we ought
to get rid of are actually the clue to what we need to learn.
But it's necessary to stay with these thoughts or emotions
despite the difficulties to learn what is really going on.
"David
Bohm
Psychology
plays such a large part in climbing. If you are mindful and
really listen then climbing can help you to understand yourself
better – your intentions, emotions, desires, perceptions
and thoughts. Climbing brings out the raw psychology in a
person. The adventure aspect of climbing - not knowing what’s
coming next but also not worrying about it, living life a
bit more in the moment. Life should be full of excitement
and change in my view. People generally don’t like change.
Climbing helps us to work with the unknown and be critical
of own our strengths and weaknesses. Taking more responsibility
in life, more trust, higher self esteem and self-knowledge
and more discipline all carry over from climbing.
Vipassana
(Insight Meditation) is to see things as they really are.
Gotama Buddha was taught this ancient art, in India, more
than 2500 years ago. When we are mindful we see what happens
exactly the way it happens, without judgement, projecting
or falling into old thought patterns. If we are mindful when
we are climbing we are not fighting, but we are practising
in-the-moment climbing which means accepting the experiences,
as they arise, for what they are. This acceptance and trust
builds a strong foundation of confidence. Being mindful is
experiencing a state of consciousness where there are no distractions
or expectations. Mindfulness meditation begins with awareness
of the breath. The breath anchors us
to the present moment. You experience the breath as
it is, you don't try and change it or control it. If a thought,
feeling, emotion, image or sound comes into your consciousness
you recognize it and then let it go. You don't follow the
content of it, interfere, or attempt to understand it or hold
onto it. You are the observer. After some practice you may
find that you have thoughts or feelings that keep recurring
and are automatic. For example the fear that a climber may
have when leading a route often comes from imagining what
might happen. Mindfulness allows us to become aware
of these sorts of thought patterns or what triggers the fear,
and create space to work with the emotion..
Activities
have a psychology behind them. Every practice of any kind has
a mental condition preceding........ Unless you know your mind,
you cannot know the nature of the works that you have to do,
and the purpose towards which the works are directed. Swami
Krishnananda
