[bppstorr]

Hi all,

When the buddha talked about looking deeply and accepting what our own insight tells us...how does that fit with listening to your own intuition about things? I often get strong intuitive feelings about things - people especially and their motives - not so much if its based on my fears, but on other things e.g. what they might do or how things will turn out. Should you pay attention to these things especially when they often turn out to be right? Is that a reliable source to base things on or at least to take strongly into account when making decisions?

[Dr.Hoodoba]

Hi Aasha,

Yes, I think it is a reliable source. My intuition, when I got in touch for the very first time, with the teachings of the historical Buddha, told me to follow them with love, enthusiasm, confidence and loyalty. I feel at peace with them.

[RarensussyRen]

Is that a reliable source to base things on or at least to take strongly into account when making decisions?

Well, it has to be better than the soothing words of a double glazing salesman.

[legal-advicer]

Well, it has to be better than the soothing words of a double glazing salesman.

Yes, that's for sure!!

[elektikakass]

...Should you pay attention to these things especially when they often turn out to be right? Is that a reliable source to base things on or at least to take strongly into account when making decisions?

Undoubtedly, yes! But you need to be aware of the difference between your own wisdom and the pull of your own emotions. You can make a poor decision that, at the time, seemed like following intuition.

I have recently been studying the Five Faculties and the Five Powers: saddha, viriya, sati, samadhi and panna, and I think they are quite relevant in the context of your question.

Mindfulness (sati) must be present: Be fully aware of the situation that you are looking at.

Look with concentration (samadhi), don't be distracted, and apply effort (viriya) to fully engage with the situation. No snap decisions.

Have faith (saddha) in your self, and listen to your inner wisdom (panna). Then you will know that you are making a good judgement.

These faculties develop, I am told, in those who practice. I'm still on the way there.

[Carol]

I have recently been studying the Five Faculties and the Five Powers: saddha, viriya, sati, samadhi and panna, and I think they are quite relevant in the context of your question.

Thanks Woodscooter. I’ve looked up an article ‘The Way of Wisdom - the Five Spiritual Faculties’ on accesstoinsight and will study it a bit later on. Yes, I understand about not allowing your heart to rule your head when it comes to making big decisions in your life. I wasn’t really meaning so much in the context of close personal relationships.

Several years ago I made the decision to move away from the city to where I stay now. I allowed a parent’s wishes to sway my decision, although I managed to convince myself also that there could be many positive outcomes about moving to the area. However, as the time got nearer to make the final decision, I started having panic attacks warning me almost that it would be an unwise thing for me to do.

I didn’t sit down and allow myself to really think seriously about the situation (‘head in the sand’ kind of attitude!), but this strong feeling of intuition that I’d had prior to the move has proved right, and as I said, I often get these feelings about things, and when I don’t listen to my intuition I end up suffering as a result.

So what’s the difference between listening to your intuition - which is often an unexplained feeling that arises without conscious deliberation - and listening to your inner wisdom based on looking deeply at a situation with concentration for a length of time and having faith in yourself?

I sometimes feel if you analyze the intuitive feeling you are getting too much, there is a danger you can talk yourself out of trusting it, because its just a feeling and can’t be proven or based on facts, and we also don‘t have a crystal ball to look into!!

I’m not very good at meditating properly yet, but if with practice I just sit and allow myself to become very aware of all the thoughts and feelings that are passing through my mind, would I have arrived at the same conclusion about the move (unwise decision), but had more insight into why I felt that way? If someone gets a strong intuitive feeling about something, should you then meditate on it, or just allow the free flow of thoughts and feelings to take place and see what arises in your mind?

This is something I’m not sure about. Can you look more deeply into something that is bothering you in life through meditation ‘on purpose‘, or is that not the object of meditation? Should you just not think about anything in particular and let whatever arises be there and take note?

[ptmQqoxw]

...but this strong feeling of intuition that I’d had prior to the move has proved right, ... I often get these feelings about things...

So what’s the difference between listening to your intuition ... and listening to your inner wisdom ... ?

It's a tricky business, listening to intuition, and distinguishing the wisdom from the noise of our thoughts. Hindsight is 20/20 vision, but always comes too late.

There's also a strong chance that we remember afterwards those occasions when our intuition was right, and all too easily pass over the times when it was not.

If someone gets a strong intuitive feeling about something, should you then meditate on it, or just allow the free flow of thoughts and feelings to take place and see what arises in your mind? ... Can you look more deeply into something that is bothering you in life through meditation ‘on purpose‘ ... Well, I believe that to practice tranquillity meditation properly, the object is to empty the mind, to clear away thought processes. If meditating 'on' something, you are not practising.

We don't have teachers at this site, I can only give you my opinion. My understanding is that after sufficient regular meditation practice, we can see the ways things are, much more clearly. Until then, it's enough to see that the mind, one's judgement, is clouded and far from perfect.

My own experience of meditation practice has led me to being more calm and less dominated by my emotions. You may find that the dissatifaction with your present circumstances (as mentioned in your original post) might become less once your mind has become calmed by regular sitting practice. Even if you can't change your circumstances, you can change your experience.

[Filmania]

There's also a strong chance that we remember afterwards those occasions when our intuition was right, and all too easily pass over the times when it was not.

Yes, that's very true.

Well, I believe that to practice tranquillity meditation properly, the object is to empty the mind, to clear away thought processes. If meditating 'on' something, you are not practising. Ok, thank you for clearing that up for me. Cheers.

[Accecyncphory]

I think that intuition and inner wisdom are all part of the same thing. Be pleased that you can contact your intuition, and continue your meditation practice to allow yourself to become aware of the other faculties, too.

I asked my meditation teacher "what is the way to develop these faculties?" and he replied "More practice".

I'm fortunate to be in contact with a meditation group, where I live in London. There is no similar facility for you, where you live. It's a similar situation for many BWB Forum Members, some live where the nearest Buddhist centre is a 3-hour car drive away.

BWB provides a place for exchange of ideas, question and answers, and access to a range of Buddhist traditions. 'Tis all good.

[peveballery]

I agree. In my experience, sooner or later you have to go by 'what feels right', especially when confronted with contradictory yet equally plausible choices. The hard part is developing and employing the discipline to distinguish between 'what feels right' and 'what feels good'.