The chattering mind

We have talked about the chattering mind, sometimes also called the monkey mind because it keeps jumping from one thing to the next. The chattering mind is always full of thoughts and not necessarily thoughts pertaining to the matter at hand. If you pay attention to your thoughts you will be surprised at how the mind jumps from one topic to the next. A chattering mind is obviously a barrier to awareness - to being alive.

What is the opposite of such a mind? Is that a mind with no thoughts? Is that a mind which is focussed just on one thing, one topic, one subject? No - in fact, first, we cannot think of it in those terms and, secondly, a mind with no thoughts or even restricted thoughts could be just a dull mind.

An alert mind is a quiet mind. It is an undisturbed state of mind - disturbed neither by happiness nor sadness, neither by positive nor negative. Such a mind just is. It is ready, it is alive. It is ready to receive life as it comes. It is not struggling, it is not resisting, it is not chattering with thoughts. It is sometimes described as the mind of a martial artist in a state of readiness, ready for anything, intensely alert but without any effort (think Bruce Lee). Such a mind is a powerful mind.

The goal is not to have zero thoughts at all times - that's impossible! We need to be aware of our thoughts and the thought process and understand what is happening in the mind. Mind, along with the thoughts in it, is a tool we have.If we understand it better and master it, we will be able to use it better (just like infants slowly recognize their hands and legs and slowly learn how to use them - see previous post). When the mind is in control, then the mind and thoughts will not be running wild. When you are aware, when the mind is intensely alert without any effort, you will experience life more fully.

Beware. Don't try to tame your mind however, don't struggle against the chattering mind - that will only increase the chattering. For now, just be aware that your mind is chattering - watch it!