Once Lord Buddha was travelling with his disciples, the journey was tedious and Buddha wanted to rest. He paused for a while, and asked one of his disciples to bring water from a nearby lake. The disciple went to the lake and found that all the water appeared to be muddy because of swimming by the children and the crossing of ox carts through the lake. The disciple returned disappointed and explained the circumstances. Buddha waited for half an hour and again sent the disciple to bring water, this time he found very clear water and excitedly brought it back to quench the thirst of his Guru. Buddha explained to his disciples how the quality of the water changed over time. The original nature of the water is to be in a pure state, but we make it muddy or dirty with our routine activities. If it is allowed some time without being disturbed it revives its natural quality, same is the case with our mind.
The inherent nature of the human mind is calmness and contentment, but we make it restless with our ceaseless thoughts. A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thought, they lose touch with reality and live in an illusion created by the mind. But if the mind is stilled for a while by refusing to entertain the seemingly never ending chatter in our heads, the mind regains its original quality that is peace.
The problem is not thoughts themselves, thoughts are necessary to function in daily life. The problems arise when we become lost in thought without even realizing we are thinking. These thoughts often consist of harsh criticisms of ourselves and others, regret about the past or anxiety for the future. This self talk is the source of a lot of discomfort and steals happiness away from the present moment. Many people live their entire lives as a series of stimuli and responses, constantly acting and reacting according to the next thought that comes into their head almost as if they are sitting in the passenger seat of their own lives. Just like with anything else in life thoughts must be held in moderation, the mind is an excellent servant but a terrible master. Accepting that it is possible to elevate one’s consciousness above the compulsive repetition of words generated by the mind is the first step to change.
Anyone can experience the benefits of this stillness if we dedicate time to practices such as mindfulness, meditation, exercise, journaling etc. These practices break the perpetual cycle of seeking pleasure and avoiding pain by making us conscious of the driving forces behind our habitual behaviors. Once we bring awareness to the thoughts and feelings that influence how we perceive our reality, we can start to question and eventually change why we think, feel, and act the way we do.
It is very possible to achieve a state of well being that is independent of gratifying desires, to feel contentment even when all external sources of satisfaction are removed. The world around us is constantly changing and trying to control it is often the cause of our regret and anxiety. The journey to peace begins with the acceptance that shifting our attention from the outside to the inside can change our perception of the world, and it all begins by making the time to pause, reflect and be still.
Recommended Reading: Sam Harris, Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality without Religion.
