A beginner’s dilemma with a chattering mind

[Jundo]

I find that my chattering mind is also a gift. It helps me think through problems and solve things.

Gassho,

Risho

For sure, to be a human being ... with a brain, emotions, passions ... is a great gift. Life! To be thinking, feeling and Alive!

Our way is to just not be a prisoner of all that, not let it run to destructive excess or harmful extremes ... and to also see right through to the Clear Source of All.

But as we sit, not clinging to our chattering mind ... not stirring up the thoughts, not grabbing and clinging as they come, not getting tangled in emotions ... the chattering mind not so "chattery" ... a certain Clarity manifests, Silent Illumination, behind, between and shining right through & as the translucent thoughts 'themselfs'. As the Blue Sky and its clouds, always one even when many, always present when only the sky alone, always present even when not seen.

Something like that.

Gassho, J

[Mp]

For sure, to be a human being ... with a brain, emotions, passions ... is a great gift. Life! To be thinking, feeling and Alive!

Our way is to just not be a prisoner of all that, not let it run to destructive excess or harmful extremes ... and to also see right through to the Clear Source of All.

But as we sit, not clinging to our chattering mind ... not stirring up the thoughts, not grabbing and clinging as they come, not getting tangled in emotions ... the chattering mind not so "chattery" ... a certain Clarity manifests, Silent Illumination, behind, between and shining right through & as the translucent thoughts 'themselfs'. As the Blue Sky and its clouds, always one even when many, always present when only the sky alone, always present even when not seen.

Something like that.

Gassho, J

Nicely said Jundo, thank you.

Gassho
Shingen

[Risho]

For sure, to be a human being ... with a brain, emotions, passions ... is a great gift. Life! To be thinking, feeling and Alive!

Our way is to just not be a prisoner of all that, not let it run to destructive excess or harmful extremes ... and to also see right through to the Clear Source of All.

But as we sit, not clinging to our chattering mind ... not stirring up the thoughts, not grabbing and clinging as they come, not getting tangled in emotions ... the chattering mind not so "chattery" ... a certain Clarity manifests, Silent Illumination, behind, between and shining right through & as the translucent thoughts 'themselfs'. As the Blue Sky and its clouds, always one even when many, always present when only the sky alone, always present even when not seen.

Something like that.

Gassho, J

Thank you. Sometimes my chattering mind is also a prison... a lot of times. But it doesn't have to be either as you say. From my perspective, I have to have faith in this process because I'm relatively new to it. What I mean is faith that it's ok to just sit; sometimes, I realize I'm not good at "just" doing anything. I always have an agenda, and I bring that agenda to sitting. I often catch myself sitting to serve a purpose of getting some peace from that chattering mind. Not to state the obvious, but this Sangha is great because it constantly reminds me that I shouldn't be trying to get anything from this practice. Just sit. Just sit.

And I need that reminder. After I listen to a talk here, I'm like oh I've got it. Then 5 minutes later I'm back to my old tricks of greed, anger and ignorance.

Gassho,

Risho

[Jundo]

I always have an agenda, and I bring that agenda to sitting. I often catch myself sitting to serve a purpose of getting some peace from that chattering mind. Not to state the obvious, but this Sangha is great because it constantly reminds me that I shouldn't be trying to get anything from this practice. Just sit. Just sit.

Having an agenda is fine and necessary for most of life. Today, I have an appointment across town, to pick up my daughter from school, to answer some emails, to do 90 minutes on the exercise bike tonight etc. etc. This is a vibrant part of life, getting things done. Even monks in the monastery have a constant busy schedule of places to go, things to do, people to see. It is LIFE!

Yet, isn't it also good to learn how to do one darn thing without a goal or "agenda"? If you cannot allow yourself 15 minutes each day to taste "agendaless living", then one may be prisoner of having an agenda. The goalless, agendaless is also LIFE!

And perhaps, one may also come to taste more and more the "busy day agenda" and the "timeless agendaless" as one, even though one side may sometimes be a bit more seen than the other.

Now ... gotta run!

Gassho, J