“Our mind is like a clear glass of water. If we put salt into the water, it becomes salty; sugar, it becomes sugar water. … But originally the water is clear. No thinking, no mind. No mind, no problem.” -Seung Sahn
Seung Sahn
Most of our troubles come from clinging to thoughts.
Due to the habit of adding a name to every sensation, thoughts create confusion.
What is called the mind is actually an endless succession of continuous thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. No thought, feeling, or perception is the same, even for an instant. Therefore, no need to worry about anything you notice.
Witnessing troublesome thoughts is liberation from them.
Witness the creative power of your mind. By shifting attention to your thoughts, what was previously unknown is now witnessed.
In the witnessing of a thought is its disappearance; and with it, any problem it was creating.
Thinking is the enemy of doing. The next time you catch yourself in mid-error, stop what you are doing and note where your mind was: what you were thinking about.
Witnessing replaces ruminating with direct action.
Imagine your mind is a radio with three channels. The left channel is for learning: you are open and receptive. The right channel is for doing: you are fully attentive. The center channel is for witnessing your mind. Tune to the center channel more often.
I’ve found that there is nothing more liberating than watching my mind, because in witnessing is discovery. Discovery, in that all the problems and fears the mind creates are fabricated.
Within pure observation, flawless activity is seamless.
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A new topic will arrive each Friday afternoon, in one of two categories. One will be on shooting, and the other will be on living. Or: how I learned to live from what I learned by competing.
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