"If you place your mind on thoughts that are based upon compassion and wisdom, that's what the mind will become familiar with." -Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
The above quote is provocative because it raises this vital question: "What's my mind 'familiar' with?" If you'd like to begin with our culture, ask the question differently: "What's familiar to the mind of people in our society?"
The answer is as quick as it is obvious: violence, anger, greed, frustration, even rage. These are so "familiar" to the mind that they are easily, quickly, and readily triggered by the smallest of issues. The concepts that are not familiar to the minds of many people in our culture are wisdom, compassion, kindness, civility, etc.
The concept that we become what we think was first taught by the Buddha, who succintly said, "All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become." . . .
Here is a meditation to explore mind familiarity.
- Sit comfortably and quietly.
- Focus on your breathing for a few moments by saying "In" on the inhalation and "Out" on the exhalation.
- Ask yourself, "What is my mind 'familiar' with?"
- Pause to see what comes up: anger or acceptance, greed or geerosity, cruelty or kindness.
- Conclude with the resolve to make your mind more "familiar" with virtues associated with compassion and wisdom. Do this by repeating affirmations like these:
--- I act compassionately to all.
--- I respond with kindness to all.
--- I see the best in each person.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
The above quote is provocative because it raises this vital question: "What's my mind 'familiar' with?" If you'd like to begin with our culture, ask the question differently: "What's familiar to the mind of people in our society?"
The answer is as quick as it is obvious: violence, anger, greed, frustration, even rage. These are so "familiar" to the mind that they are easily, quickly, and readily triggered by the smallest of issues. The concepts that are not familiar to the minds of many people in our culture are wisdom, compassion, kindness, civility, etc.
The concept that we become what we think was first taught by the Buddha, who succintly said, "All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become." . . .
Here is a meditation to explore mind familiarity.
- Sit comfortably and quietly.
- Focus on your breathing for a few moments by saying "In" on the inhalation and "Out" on the exhalation.
- Ask yourself, "What is my mind 'familiar' with?"
- Pause to see what comes up: anger or acceptance, greed or geerosity, cruelty or kindness.
- Conclude with the resolve to make your mind more "familiar" with virtues associated with compassion and wisdom. Do this by repeating affirmations like these:
--- I act compassionately to all.
--- I respond with kindness to all.
--- I see the best in each person.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
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