Brother Richard

We simply notice it.

And having noticed the thought,

ask yourself, what conditions allowed this thought to arise within me?

What conditions allowed this thought to arise within me?

At first, it may seem almost impossible to tell where the thought is coming from.

And so we can delve a little deeper.

We can ask, where in my body did I feel a reaction to this thought?

Where in my body did I feel a reaction to this thought?

Or we can ask, what emotions, feelings rose in me in response to this thought?

what emotions or feelings arose in me in response to this thought.

And holding the thought in gentle awareness, ask yourself, can you find the moment that the thought first appeared?

What was the precipitating movement, moment, or action that allowed this thought to appear?

Do not become frustrated if you can't find it immediately.

This is a subtle practice, and it takes time.

we can begin to build this attention, this awareness, by stopping and pausing occasionally, even in the middle of the day, and asking ourselves, where have these thoughts arisen from?

Why are they here?

What do they bring?

Are they useful or not?

Gently now, still holding that original thought that you decided to give your attention to.

Begin to go a little further back in its history.