Noting How Easily We Become Distracted
Counting the breath 10, 21, or 108 times in meditation helps us to stabilise and train our mind, or at least become aware how much we are not in control. It’s quite a shock to see how this inner chatter drives our daily lives.
We count the outward breath, noting when thoughts arise (and they will), but not following them. This is about observing how often we become distracted; it’s not a matter of meditation being ‘spoilt’ when a thought occurs, but of acknowledging and letting go, continuing in clarity so that we aren’t lost in concepts or thoughts (our brand awareness 🙂 ).
Thoughts will arise, but we don’t become involved. If we do, we go back to 1. There is no judgement or failure; it’s about becoming more aware and more stable.
Being in control of our mind,
we can think outside the box
= lateral thinking = esoteric = non-duality.
The box is conventional bias and sentimentality
= vertical thinking = exoteric = duality.
BUDDHA IN THE MUD is a blog - a living book based on the Dzogchen teachings. Our teacher is life, and life is karma. We are all Buddhas in the mud of concepts. 
Enlightenment doesn’t have a chance in the 3rd world, or even the 2nd world with their emphasis on having/getting/owning/controlling/conquering/defeating/etc. Even in the old days, martial artrs were yang to the Bodhi Tree’s yin. The Buddha defeated the fearsome destroyers by failing to be moved–by not caring. Not caring has no place in this culture. Success is at odds with “nothing to win, nothing to lose.” Enlightenment is not for those who don’t mind losing. Who have to win at all costs. No?
From a Buddhist point of view, enlightenment is realising our true essence of pure consciousness, and purifying our obsessions and fixations that manifest as an illusory self image which we worship.
With this realisation arises compassion for all, in the form of non-hostility in body speech and mind.
A Bodhisattva cares very much for sentient beings, engendering an altruistic attitude towards all, even demons.
Demons lie in ambush attracted to our likes and dislikes; they know our weaknesses and feed off them. This is why we have to know our weaknesses before they do.
As long as there are unenlightened beings, there will be demons, making us believe all sorts of things.
Tony