Why label?

[Music]

Just a quick question. Must we label everything we experience?

[DGA]

No.

It can be useful to do so under some circumstances (drink the water, not the vinegar). But you don't need the label "water" to benefit from a cool drink on a hot day.

[cesar]

No.

It can be useful to do so under some circumstances (drink the water, not the vinegar). But you don't need the label "water" to benefit from a cool drink on a hot day.

well put.

[Music]

I meant labeling while meditating, as in vipasana.

[ClearblueSky]

Certainly not, in fact a large aspect of meditation is learning not to label. When thoughts arise, learning not to label them such as "good, bad, important, distracting". Just seeing the mind and not labeling our thoughts and experiences, and the goal is to do this in meditation then bring it into all times of your life.

[Karma Dondrup Tashi]

It's a pen, guys. Not a chew toy. Don't have any choice in the matter. Like I can snap my fingers and change the way my karma is making me perceive? Don't think so.

So what to do, whatever to do? Just chillax.

[muni]

Experiences are clouds already gone.

Labeling consciousness stream as I, labeling things as mine, my experience... In our language we do so, but nice it should be, to see the illusion of labeling, at least for me.

[Music]

Let's say I am observing my breath but go off on a train of thought. Do I just label it 'thinking' and then return to breath? It is this kind of labeling I am talking about.

[Osho]

Maybe just let it go.
Labelling it is just another thing to think about.
No impertinence intended.

[muni]

Let's say I am observing my breath but go off on a train of thought. Do I just label it 'thinking' and then return to breath? It is this kind of labeling I am talking about.

When mind is going to wander (in thoughts), don't worry, simple come back. Yongye Mingyur Rinpoche.