Handling The Troublesome Mind

A Buddhist story about freeing oneself from the tyranny of thoughts, paving way for a silent mind.

A short story about leading one from the mind to the no mind, a state of eternal peace.

Gautama Buddha one day asked one of his disciples to beg alms from a certain household and report to him at dusk. The monk returned to the master as per his command only to let him know that he would not beg for alms in that particular house again.

When pressed for the reason, the monk answered, " I savoured the delicious food served and I suddenly felt an urge to eat something sweet. The lady of the house offered me a sweet dish. I then felt like sleeping and the lady immediately asked me to rest for a while. I was surprised by her ability to read my thoughts that I asked how she knew of my desires?"

"The lady replied, 'Witnessing my thoughts, my mind has become silent now that I can now see other thoughts as well"

The monk continued to Buddha, " Looking at her I had sexual thoughts also and now I am embarrassed to see her again for alms as she would have read my sensual desire as well.

So I do not want to visit her house for alms"

The Buddha said that the monk ought to go to the particular house for alms again. He advised, "This time you will go as a changed person. Just be aware of your thoughts, every bite of your food and every step that you take. You will just have to watch every thought that arises, but do not co-operate with it .

Disassociate with it and do not analyze it. No thought is yours, they come from outside!"

The monk did as advised by Gautama Buddha. He remained a mere witness to his thoughts and there was no co-operation from his end. There was a change within him, an inner peace, though the world continued to remain the same.

When You Walk Alone, You Walk Fast

When large-scale copying of ideas and lifestyles is the norm, it is unusual for one to embark on an unexplored path out of conviction.

On uncharted territory every decision taken is a unique one as it has no precedence; so it's a challenge. To do so requires tremendous courage, conviction and faith in one's own capability.

Taking a known path is safer, as one would know what to expect or what turn events might take.

When you walk alone, there is the danger of giving in to self-doubt or feeling vulnerable at being ridiculed for having taken a "brave decision". Some might call it arrogance.

When frustration sets in it is important to replay situations that propelled us to take the unbeaten path. When in conflict, go and relive the decision. That would help clarify your purpose and motivation. When that is sorted out, the next step is to analyse the present situation.

You would perhaps conclude that conflicts in the mind arise when there is a gap between what was expected and what is currently occurring. It is when these conflicts occur that depressing doubts begin. Stress, anxiety and other psychosomatic problems begin to emerge causing health problems.

What is the way out? Gautama Buddha's Second Noble Truth – Patticasamuppada or Dukkha samuddaya – focuses on 12 parameters. Buddha's process of deduction provides a logical perspective.

We doubt because the sense object contact inevitably brings forth various emotions, according to Buddha. But the turmoil that occurs inevitably is because we identify our emotions with what is occurring around so completely that all rational thinking is lost. Because of its innate simplicity Buddha's teachings attract the common man and help him to overcome self-doubt and dissatisfaction.

In order to apply his practical notion to our day-to-day life we would have to comprehend the following:

Firstly, nothing is permanent, so accept where we are now and not cling to the effects that are thrown our way. We should be pragmatic and clinically study why we are in a state of turmoil or take it one notch higher and introspect to see if we are really in a state of dissatisfaction. On dispassionate analysis we will see that every situation that we are in is because of the way or the manner in which we have handled or perceived the occurrences around us.

Walking alone is not a problem but to stay on course, understand and face challenges therein is the true test. It would help then to look at achievers who have reached the pinnacle of excellence in their respective fields.

Are they not people like you and me who have broken the set stereotype and gone beyond the paradigm? Have they not set an example that is beyond the ordinary?

The difference is that, though they walked alone, they did so with conviction, confidence and commitment like the Paccheka Buddha of early Buddhist philosophy who was an individual in pursuit of a way out of the daily trammels of living, but charting his own course.

(Written by: Radha Kumar)