INVESTIGATE NOT BY THINKING BUT BY WATCHING

Swiss Retreat 2019 Group Interviews 10 (1:26:50-1:30:50)

Yogi: A lot of fear arose and I began to check the source of the fear.

I finally realized that it was my fear of getting old. Whatever I do – strenuous sports and risky business – is to avoid getting old. 

This is where I’m now, thinking and reflecting over all these things.

Sayadaw: There is a lot of thinking there – thinking and then observing, thinking and then observing – and the thinking has created its own story. 

Do more of the observing and less of the thinking. 

Investigate is not to investigate by thinking. When you have a question like why is there fear, you put aside the question and observe what is happening in the mind and body – just observe like watching a movie and not think further.