Yogi: When I walk out in the woods, when there are so much sensory input – seeing, hearing, feeling the wind on the face and thinking about it all – how can I still be steady and hold the awareness? I feel like I’m jumping around.
Sayadaw: The mind is possibly used to being with one object at a time only – then, suddenly allowing the mind to be open to more, feels like there is a lot going on. But, in any one moment there is only one object at a time.
Yogi: Yes, I’ve been aware of that.
Sayadaw: Whether we look at one person in the room or look at many, it is only 1 vision. The key is whether you have a preference – whether you think that one object is more calming and a few are more agitating.
Yogi: Probably, it’s more of a habit.
Sayadaw: Be aware of your immediate experience rather than the concepts – like not feeling wind but just feeling, not seeing trees but just seeing.
Yogi: Not stepping into the perception.
Sayadaw: Yes; just awareness of the sense contact object.