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“Are you managing your mind or is your mind managing you” is a common question cited by meditation instructors. Many people are unaware of the dangers which lurk when the mind is not properly managed. An example of this is related by Kanjitsu Iijima in his book Buddhist Yoga.
In the days before World War II, a Japanese widow in America had a small cleaning business. One day during her absence, the shop caught fire, and when she returned, only smoke and ashes remained. In shock, she was seen walking in circles around the ruins. Three days later, she was discovered dead. The distraught woman ended her life by suicide by hanging herself from the blackened beams. Those who knew her said she had a huge distrust of banks and likely had cash hidden inside the laundry, which, of course, burned up with the building.
Though the death certificate cited “suicide” as her cause of death, a closer examination could conclude her cause of death was weak mind management. Her thoughts focused entirely on loss and destruction leaving no opening for thoughts of rebuilding and restoration. Many others experienced complete financial devastation, forced to file for bankruptcy but managed to survive and come back from their losses. According to the Buddha it all comes down to the mind. “The mind is everything. What you think you become,” he said.
In the days before World War II, a Japanese widow in America had a small cleaning business. One day during her absence, the shop caught fire, and when she returned, only smoke and ashes remained. In shock, she was seen walking in circles around the ruins. Three days later, she was discovered dead. The distraught woman ended her life by suicide by hanging herself from the blackened beams. Those who knew her said she had a huge distrust of banks and likely had cash hidden inside the laundry, which, of course, burned up with the building.
Though the death certificate cited “suicide” as her cause of death, a closer examination could conclude her cause of death was weak mind management. Her thoughts focused entirely on loss and destruction leaving no opening for thoughts of rebuilding and restoration. Many others experienced complete financial devastation, forced to file for bankruptcy but managed to survive and come back from their losses. According to the Buddha it all comes down to the mind. “The mind is everything. What you think you become,” he said.
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