Dear Reader — this is the first of two exchanges with Neecha that took place around the Dharma Meltdown period which I would like to share prior to entering the next ‘chapter’ of this blog. The entry here is a question for Mae Yo about focus:
Question: I know that practice has 2 important components, wisdom and focus. I am clear on the wisdom part and, it feels like I become more and more clear on it with time. But the focus part, is not something I think about or practice for very much and the details seem fuzzy. I know that Mae Yo has done Q and As on this before, but perhaps I can ask again for a personal answer since I still am not sure (even if its an answer I need to file for later…I would like to have it).
So specifically I guess I what I would ask about focus is :
1) What exactly is it?
2) Why is it important?
3) How do I develop it?Can this be done in my normal daily life (like wisdom can)?
4) How do I use it in my daily life/practice?
I guess a big part of my question comes from my own experience …I know that focused meditation is supposed to make a practitioner better able to stay on point and see clearly in wisdom contemplation, but in my own experience, relaxing, napping, walking, these are the activities that usually preceded my having really important insights (after lots of thinking beforehand of course). Or is focus more like a shock to the system..something like the pain that caused dharma Meltdown 2.0, in which case, I was motivated to contemplation quickly and sharply because I knew there was an issue to solve (i.e. is it a light a fire under my but sort of practice?). I know that pain and fear are often talked about as ways to cultivate focus; I am someone with pretty frequent pain (because of my stomach issues) and I used to be in fear almost all of the time, both have been motivations for practice, but mostly because I don’t want the suffering..not because they have (I don’t think) made my mind extra sharp.
Anyway..I was just looking back at some open questions and I wanted to send this one along. Lets just say if there are 2 important aspects to practice…I don’t want to end up with a 50% mark on the exam ;).
Reply from Neecha and Mae Yo: Focus is heightened attention, either to a particular subject or in general.
It’s important, like the sharpness of a knife. You are more precise and effective when focused.
Extreme stress or fear can cause you to focus. You develop it, without extreme fear, by maintaining continuity and your momentum in practice. By constantly contemplating TTP, you are weary of your surroundings, constantly watching yourself, your thoughts, your actions. This is what you already do!
You don’t have to consciously think about using it, the alert focus you have from contemplating on a topic helps you notice anything that relates to that topic. It helps you link them together to form an understanding.