By Ace Remas |
When you meditate with some determination each day, even for a few days, you will soon realize that the mind is not the brain. The brain is a physical organ, like the heart and lungs, with certain functions to perform. We can’t explain our experience of mind as having any physical qualities at all. We can’t touch it, weigh it, see it. Yet we know we have a mind, and we know it performs certain functions. Our thoughts, feelings and sensations arise from the mind. Our sense of self is conceived by mind.
The principal function of meditation is to acquaint us with this mysteriously intangible object—our mind. As familiarity with its subtle qualities increases, we are better able to control those states of minds that determine our happiness or difficulties. Gradually we’ll come to realize that our happiness and contentment in life depend on the state of our mind and not on what we perceive to be external conditions.
This realization is liberating because it is possible to control our mind. Try as hard as we can though, we cannot control the external world.
Despite this fundamental understanding, we find it difficult to overcome the attachment to the idea that better conditions will bring us happiness. We crave external changes—such as a new partner, more money, a better job, recognition, companionship, possessions, and security—as the sources of happiness. We strive to attain these objects and conditions. But even success brings only short-lived happiness. Worry and fear of losing what has been attained often contaminates the happiness we might have achieved. On the other hand, failure to achieve these external conditions might even lead to depression, anger, frustration, and other negative states of mind. Yet despite the constant lessons of ordinary life, we remain convinced that better external conditions will produce the happiness we seek.
This attachment to external conditions is caused by ignoring the formless quality of the mind. We wrestle with physical objects but what we are trying to subdue is the non-material, untouchable mind. Meditation teaches us to go directly to the source of all happiness, which also is the source of all our unhappiness—the mind.
As we are able to develop concentration in meditation we experience more subtle states of mind. The more subtle this experience, the more calm the mind becomes. A calm mind is experienced as happiness. The pain, suffering, and discontent we live through is an agitated mind. By meditating we become familiar with calm states of mind, enjoy the experience and wish to repeat these experiences. With this motivation, we continue to gain familiarity with these happy states of mind. Gradually, our wisdom increases and in our daily lives we begin to turn inward to a calm mind and refuse to become attached to or agitated by what is happening outside the mind.
Over time, with meditation and the mindfulness to remember its lessons, we find ourselves happier, more satisfied, and with fewer problems. With fewer problems and a more balanced approach to the challenges of our lives we make fewer mistakes. The result is a happy life, even though no material action was required.
How different is this approach to the way we normally face our life! And it is easy to do. It requires just a few minutes each day sitting quietly and reflecting on the truths of your existence. Here’s how to get started:
After settling the mind by focusing on your breath for a short while, recall that the external world is not the source of happiness. You must turn inward, to the mind. You’ll feel resistance to this thought, even some fear that if you let go of your ordinary view something may go wrong. Conversely, you may feel some excitement that at last you have found relief from the causes of stress in your life.
As your concentration increases, resolve to come back to the mind itself and not be drawn out by the temptations of your attachment or by the frustrations of your anger. Decide in meditation to renounce attachment and anger, to become a balanced individual, wise, compassionate, calm. Visualize yourself as having accomplished this, which will give rise to a positive feeling, a feeling of joy, purpose, attainment. Focus your concentration single-pointedly on this positive state of mind. Meditate on it without distraction as if your mind and this positive view have mixed together. Stay as long as you can.
When finished, take a few moments before arising from your seat to dedicate yourself to recalling this positive feeling throughout the day. If you know challenging situations are going to occur in that day, such as meeting with the boss, a talk with your teenager, or facing traffic court, for example, make such an event a signpost to remind you about the inner quality of the mind. Keep a calm mind during the day, and you’ll experience a happy day.
For more info, call Ace at 415-760-7300.
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