Labeling

I am still harvesting green beans--a basketful every day. In the midst of all that greenery, some beans have escaped my notice and become big bean-y beans; others are young and tender. No matter. I blanch and freeze both. My sweetie insists on labeling the big beans so that when he takes a bag of beans out of the freezer, he'll know what he's getting.

Labeling our meditation object is a good practice to remind ourselves what we are doing in meditation. Hearing. Hearing. Or Feeling. Feeling. Or even Seeing. Seeing. Labeling is a big help in our mindfulness practice.

I'm wondering if i can be mindful enough to pick my pole beans every day.

To Squash? Or Not to Squash?

I picked my first summer squash yesterday. I love them sauteed in butter and fresh garlic with a dash of tamari.

Even though the noun "squash" looks like the verb "to squash," the noun comes from an Algonquin word in which the -ash is the plural.

Plural is definitely the word to use when it comes to summer squash and zucchini. Fortunately, i picked these squash while they were only 6 inches long. But i even love the ones that get away, the ones i don't discover till they are a foot (or 2!) long. These i grate in the food processor and freeze in baggies to use in blond brownies.

In meditation, we can watch the plural ways of our mind wandering off. We don't squash that thought. We simply recognize it; labeling is very effective right here.

You can "pick" some thoughts while they are young and short, but others will get away from you and develop into great long stories. "Pick" that long thought by labeling it. Then settle back in to watch the mind grow.

Photo from klesickfamilyfarm.com

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.