Your words have illustrated it beautifully and it makes complete sense, and it has very much helped me. Thank you for your always insightful words!

Rather than struggle to overcome labeling attachments with labeling aversions, or vice versa, you might try just noticing the part of the mind that is preoccupied with the labeling controversy. And then notice the part that is doing the noticing. If your experience is like mine, that part of your mind — what Patanjali calls the Seer, what Zen calls the No Self — isn’t invested one way or the other in the label battle. It’s just seeing it.

When we stop investing attachment and/or aversion with new energy (by reinforcing or opposing), it may take a while, but eventually that particular issue will tend to subside. It won’t happen all at once, to be sure. More like an echo in a complicated canyon — it starts loud, then gets softer, sometimes to resurge a bit before acceding finally to the silence.

Funny enough Amy, exactly what you mentioned is exactly what I realized last night. In fact I used a previous comment by you to illustrate to my wife what I was thinking.

I find that although I enjoy the concepts of Zen, for my life, and in my mind, I take them to the extreme. I often get so hung up on the fact that “labels are bad” to not have a realistic view on it. As you said, not all labels are inherently bad, and some may even be necessary. My problem is really that I’m placing so much energy on the fact that I feel I shouldn’t be labeling that I then become obsessed in the opposite direction. Does that make sense?

I’m so concerned about labeling that I have now become obsessed with trying to not label. However, I’m still in a backwards way placing importance on labels. At least, that’s how I see it. It’s not that the label itself is bad, but more importantly, how much I am attached to said label. Either way I’m placing to much importance on the matter.

PS: I think I repeated myself too much in that last paragraph. Oh well.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the comment.

Shilpan

I was reading “The Idiots Guide to Zen Living” (great book) and remember a section where the authors mention a situation where maybe you’re running late for work. The natual human response is to stress out. Continually watch the clock, complain about other drivers, even yell at them, etc, etc, etc. All of this stress and anger over something that you at this point have no control over.

So you’re running late? Well, just enjoy the ride. Look at the sky, enjoy the views around you, maybe you’ll see something you’ve never noticed before and when the time comes, you’ll arrive at your destination.

I can choose to freak out or stress out about being late, when in all reality, I can’t change the fact that I’m late. So why not accept it and enjoy life in the meantime.

I learned something huge at the Byron katie weekend. It became clear to me that underneath all of the labels, thoughts and emotions we have, if you get deep enough, you find that LOVE permeates it all. That deep place of peace and love is the zen state of being. Since then, I’ve been able to relate to all of the annoying and frustrating things as gifts and to even re-label them in the moment instead of years later.

I’m late somewhere? Oh fabulous, that must be just what I need. My son is throwing a tantrum? Perfect opportunity to practice non-reactivity. A deaf girl joins the yoga class I’m teaching? Great way to learn to connect without the concept of words.

Looking at the world as a friendly place has been so freeing for me. I find all sorts of extra energy because it’s not being lost on the illusion of negativity. Does that make sense?