The Practice: Watching the Mind
“Tell me to what you pay attention, and I will tell you who you are.”
Daily Practice and Reflection:
Our minds are always a part of the way we construct our reality. So, in meditation, we sit and watch the mind so we can understand the material of our minds. We see how multiple thoughts compete for our attention; how easily we can be pulled in different directions; leaning forward into the future: worrying, projecting, controlling, seeking certainty; or rewinding into the past: rehashing, ruminating, or wishing things were different. Watching our mind, we may even come to see how often we live from habit, on autopilot and cruise control rather than conscious intention.
Through spacious witnessing of the mind, we also come to understand that our thoughts aren’t always our reality. They aren’t always based in truth or actual happenstance; rather we create, dramatize, sensationalize, and add on to our direct experience. And this can happen so easily, so frequently, that we don’t even realize it is happening. We must remember that we are not our thoughts but rather the one aware of our thoughts… and that makes all the difference.
So, what if we held the perspective that our mind isn’t the problem, but rather the material to build our own wisdom and understanding? We watch the mind, to be more attentive rather than habitual, to discern which of our mental states lead to happiness and well-being and which lead to stress and suffering. As Lama Rod Owens says, “There is no liberation without practice.” So, we watch the mind so we can make better choice on the road to healing and wellness. We watch the mind so we can remember the best version of ourselves.
“My experience is what I agree to attend to. Only those items I notice shape my mind.”
Meditation Practice:
“By watching the mind, we are developing a quality of attention that is generous and full. We can dive beneath our preconceived ideas. This quality of attention and presence offers us a wholesome and beneficial way of looking at life through fresh eyes with a sense of balance and meditation helps bring a wholesome neutrality to charged situations, a vibrant heart to meet the challenges of life without collapsing.”
“Where you spend your attention is where you spend your life.”
“In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.”
“No one faces your past for you or makes your choices for you. It is not always easy—but if what we really want is deep understanding, we have to go there, into our own struggle. No one can reveal my heart to myself but myself.”
“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”
“Nothing in the world can bother you as much as your own mind. In fact, others seem to be bothering you, but it is not others. It is your own mind.”
“The mind is like tofu. It tastes like whatever you marinate it in.”
“How does the modern world look to a meditation master? Lost in thought.”