Which thought am I?

I joined in on the open meditation session last night at Common Grounds in Mpls.  It had been a while... I knew going there that I was mostly identified with thought and the 30 minute sit would be challenging.  And it was.

My foot fell asleep quickly, my upper back was felt sore, my attention went to my thoughts most of the time, I observed it all as neutrally as possible, I confess I adjusted my posture twice (that was a yogi joke, laugh now).  After guiding us (60 or 70 fellow meditators) through the sit, the intrustor gave a very helpful darma talk on what it is to practice mindfullness.  He quoted the Buddha in saying that 50 or 70 percent of the 'work' is becoming aware that we are identified with thought.  'Letting Go' of the attachement happens naturally as soon as the light of awareness shines.  When we are identified with our thoughts we believe we are our thoughts.  I was kindly reminded of what a silly concept this is ?!?!

Which thought am I?  Consider all of the ridculous, innaproriate, fantasy, rude, generous, kind, joyful thoughts a human has in...oh... 10 mintues.  Do any of these thoughts define who am I am?  No.

To identify with each passing thought leads to suffering and frustration, feeling unsettled and never grounded.  The mind is never grounded, moving from one attachement to the next to the next to the next.  In one beautiful breath of awareness we see the silly ramblings of the mind and become the observer. I am the observer.  The one watching, noticing...  and through exercising this mindfullness muscle the heart learns not to cling to every thought.  Hold the thought, honor it, watch it pass.  Life gets easier, we see situations exactly as they are.  This moment overflows with Acceptance, Joy, Peace, Love.

This morning I woke up and wove my field (my new morning ritual I learned at school) and did a 15 minute sit.

love to all.
Kate