Grounding Emotions vs. Mindfulness of Body

Something a user posted in another discussion raised a question that has been on my mind since, to wit: How is grounding the emotions in the body separate from continuous mindfulness of the body? I am assuming there is some differing charcteristics between the two since it is not referred to simply as mindfulness of the body, but am not sure what those differences are, and, if the feeling of those who have used the grounding technique is that they would have received the same benefits using a different technique, in this example simply mindfulness of the body? If not, what is it about this technique that is useful? Is the essence of the technique essentially recognizing the stillness that has never left the body enough times that this becomes the norm? Any thoughts from those who have experience would be valued. Thanks.

Bill

Via www.vipassana.com/canon/majjhima/mn119.php (Majjhima Nikaya 119, Kayagata-sati Sutta , Mindfulness Immersed in the Body)


"And as he remains thus heedful, ardent, & resolute, any memories & resolves related to the household life are abandoned, and with their abandoning his mind gathers & settles inwardly, grows unified & centered. This is how a monk develops mindfulness immersed in the body."

"[1] He conquers displeasure & delight, and displeasure does not conquer him. He remains victorious over any displeasure that has arisen.

"[2] He conquers fear & dread, and fear & dread do not conquer him. He remains victorious over any fear & dread that have arisen.

I would argue that the first quote above seems to point to a combination of the tollbooth and feeling the body continuously. This is direct mode (essentially).

As you can see one of the benefits of this is that one is not conquered by displeasure, delight, fear or dread. One is victorious over them if it arises. This is very much in line with my experience of direct mode.

The method can really be summed up in that first quote. One abandons any memories and resolves related to the household life and returns to the body - i.e. "how does this feel in the body."

e.g. the thought "I'm going to be late for work"
is abandoned
and one asks "how does this feel in the body" and returns to the body.

If one tunes into sensuousness then this practice can go towards pce territory. If one tunes into jhanic factors or whatever, it can be used for that too. I've been really getting back into concentration practice, and this seems to really crank up the momentum.

I think I'm guilty of the question, triggered by Mu's fine post.

This is something I recently have started practice. I've had limited success in "grounding" emotions so far.
I easily see the emotions as bodily sensations, but it is hard to "heal" them.

But by keeping strong 360 degree attention into the body (including sight and hearing) i succeed.
I then find negative thoughts dissolving into the bodily vibrations, like a bliss wave. Instead of becoming a negative emotion in the body.
To get this special state of attention I stand still relaxing and focus my way up to fourth jhana (or an attention similar to fourth jhana) and then try to keep it for a few minutes.

This is very close, if not the same, as my vipassana "just sitting"-mindfulness-practise.

So my question was: Is this the same as Kenneth's "grounding the emotions", because I have never understood these instruction, the tollbooth, lightning rod, lava lamps etc.

On a very good day of course...


And it works easiest with anger, and hardest with fear/nervousness.

Thank you Mu and Pejn for your response. I ask because I was recently talking with Kenneth regarding a separate project and he suggested that the next step would be this transformation of emotions. I explained to him that i didnt always find the reports of those who had travelled that path to its current stage to be in line with my own intentions but i find the idea of grounding the emotions to be not so different from mindfulness of the body which makes a lot of sense to me at this time.