Tethering Clouds
George G Clark, 13 April 2008
There is undoubtedly some reality out there: it is, for example, advisable to get out of the way of ten ton trucks. But 'knowing' this reality is a tricky problem.
Most of us have lost touch with our 'beginner's mind'. We rarely indulge in bare sensing of reality; we invariably make the raw 'thing' part of a story where it is linked to all manner of other thoughts and feelings. We elaborate on what we sense in a dynamic and ongoing way. We develop viewpoints and believe that they reflect reality.
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's there are few." Suzuki Roshi
But when we make quiet time for deep thought it becomes clear that our viewpoints are as substantial and long lasting as clouds in the sky. But for some (?) reason we prefer to imagine that the cloudy viewpoint has an abiding reality. It is not easy to unhook from this well established habit of thought. But it is well worth the effort; it enables an easy peace. Untether your viewpoints and let them go: you will then be at peace in the present moment. It works for me: more often than not!
Source of viewpoint: Joseph Goldstein (1993) Insight Meditation: the practice of freedom; ISBN 0717122557
| "Beginner's mind is Zen practice in action. It is the mind that is innocent of preconceptions and expectations, judgements and prejudices. Beginner's mind is just present to explore and observe and see "things as-it-is." I think of beginner's mind as the mind that faces life like a small child, full of curiosity and wonder and amazement. "I wonder what this is? I wonder what that is? I wonder what this means?" Without approaching things with a fixed point of view or a prior judgement, just asking "what is it?" |