Before the meditation, Alan explained to us the importance of this practice –Settling the Mind is a crucial Shamatha practice and also has qualities of Vipassana. The practice was introduced by the Buddha. Alan explained also that there are 2 types of ignorance: Cognitive Deficit Disorder, when the mind is distracted and we don’t perceive the reality of the moment. The other is Cognitive Hyperactivity, when we perceive something that is not there, but rather is a projection of our thoughts, images, ideas, etc. We project permanency into them and we create an illusion.

Alan’s instructions for the practice were not to engage in grasping and aversion when we watch our thoughts. Like the Buddha said: In the seen there is only the seen; in the mentally perceived, just the mentally perceived.