Private worlds

When the mind is quiet, life happens easily, naturally and spontaneously. When the mind is restless, I am anxious and fretful, an open-hulled boat in choppy waters. The world reflects my state of mind.

Cacophony

To cultivate a quiet mind, continuously observe the babble of thought in the head. Notice the repetition and negativity. See how the aim of these thoughts is to trigger an emotional response, how they parade their own importance. Dispassionate attention slows the mind. The space between thoughts expands.

Ready, set, accumulate (2)

Gurdjieff: “Sin? Sin is what is unnecessary.” Nisargadatta: “Only the necessary is good. There is peace only in the essential.”

What we possess, we are possessed by.

Screwed

No doubt the mind is a powerful tool. So is an electric drill. Tools are for occasional use. We would surely view as deeply weird someone who walked around drilling all the time.

A quiet mind

A mind that is always active inevitably coarsens and decays, as anything does that’s used incessantly. For life to unfold in a loving and spontaneous way, one thing is essential: a quiet mind.