Words From The Master - 05 March 2008

Towards Meditative Living

Thorns on your path
(continuation from earlier post)

How do you handle the mind?

Just like I said abut the ego – don’t fight with the mind. You cannot achieve anything by struggling against your mind. In fact, you cannot even struggle – because even struggling is a function of the mind! So it will be one part of your mind struggling against the other part. Instead, simply become a witness to the functioning of your mind.

This is not going to be easy. Especially on this path, the mind is a very dangerous companion! Initially, it will create all sorts of fears and doubts in your mind. When you start trying to witness your thoughts, it will convince you that you are actually witnessing. But if the mind tells you that, it means the mind is at work. If you are actually witnessing, there will be no opinions, no judgment, not even the idea, These are thoughts. I am witnessing them.

But be very clear: the mind is not your enemy. There is nothing wrong with thinking. It is just a process like any other. Don’t put yourself into a fighting position. Just be an observer of the mind, an observer of your thoughts. Enjoy the play of your mind!

As you start watching your thoughts, you will see that they start flowing more and more slowly. As your awareness becomes deeper, you become aware of gaps in the flow. A gap that you experience like a flash – you glimpse it, then it vanishes. A gap in which you experience a beautiful silence. By and by, the gaps start happening more frequently. Don’t become attached even to this experience! Don’t wait for the gaps. When the gaps become wider, you will be able to see with intense clarity – not just the outer world, but into the inner world as well.

This is the experience of no-mind.

Don’t think that this is too much for you!

When you practise with sincerity, with totality, it will happen.

(to be continued.)
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This excerpt has been taken from the book: "Meditation is for You" -- an introduction to the science and art of meditation