Labeling

Since i can't bear to throw plants away, i pot up my extras to give away. Then i use popsicle sticks to label them. "Yellow daylily" or "Russian sage." Sometimes i use the Latin name "Brunnera macrophylla" or "papaver somniflorum."

In meditation, we label our distracting thoughts. We have several systems available to us:

• We can label thoughts simply by naming them "past" or "future."
• We can label thoughts with words such as "planning," "worrying," "dreaming," etc.
• We can use the 5 Hindrances as a forced-choice exercise. By sorting every thought into one of these 5 categories, we gain insight into what, in particular, hinders our meditation.

sense desire

ill-will

lethargy & sleepiness

restlessness & worry

doubt

 Labeling thoughts increases our mindfulness. Labeling plants helps the recipient to know what plants they are receiving.