The Experimenting Mind

“Find freedom by probing and testing” [Chekawa’s Mind Training in Seven Points: Lojong].

“My religion is Kindness” [H.H. The 14^th Dalai Lama].

Mission:

1.  To introduce the Experimentfulness attitude and insights.

2. Voice your experiment – To share your personal experiments with others.

The scientific investigative methodology is frequently applied to better understand nature. We all bear the fruit of science sometimes to our detriment, many times for better. Life expectancy and quality has benefited enormously from science.

Being  in a rut in life, repeating the same patterns, dealing with adverse circumstances, these are not breaking news for anyone. However, it is a burden to not being able to change; it is a joy to transform unfavorable conditions into a brighter path.

The scientific methodology, generally, comprises these following stages:

• Make Observations
• Think of interesting questions
• Gather Data
• Formulate hypothesis
• Device an experiment.
• Analyze results.
• Draw conclusions
• Develop General Theory.

How about adopting some parts of the scientific method?  To experiment with various aspects of this fleeting life?

The Experimental mind is an attitude. An attitude of accepting: “I don’t know what will happen” as a given. A bold attempt at dropping fear and experimenting. The Experimental mind is an investigative tool to reveal the effects of trying new, different attitudes and actions, for a limited pre-determined length of time.

These are the 4 steps offered to Experiment with change:

1. Think of interesting questions in the spirit of: “what will be the effect of performing a – specific act for a certain time – on my feelings, attitude and others reactions?
2. Devise an experiment. Decide on a specific act and a short period in which to perform the experiment.
3. Analyze results. Reflect on the experiment and its results.
4. Publish. If one find his experiment beneficial and insightful, one may report their experiment and results in various sources. E.g. Facebook, a specific site etc.

The Experimental mind can apply to various directions (See in relevant headers):

1. Meditations in small steps.
2. Aikido with adversities: Using difficult situations to develop.

One may look through these headers as examples for experiments performed as well as a scaffold to present your own experiment.

May Most of my actions be driven by compassion and the wish to benefit others (I leave some actions for sheer fun).

Nir.