Lunchbox: observing thought fluctuations for a calm mind

The mind is a fickle friend, sometimes like the kid in kindergarten, who decides to take away our lunchbox and hide it just for fun. There can be a lot of chaos in the mind upstairs, just as a classroom full of these kids.

Even when we try to sit with the good kids at lunch, there is Fred, the prankster, who tells us our mom doesn't know how to pack a good lunchbox and our food looks yucky. At one moment we are feeling great, then bam, deflated. Dude, really?

Although we learn to choose our friends and really try to be good kids, there are going to be times when our thoughts, actions, and emotions may not align with our best intentions. Recognizing this, we become the witnesses of our thoughts, actions, and emotions, learning to redirect them.

We subsequently become a more positive influence on our hard-wired mind; we can even learn to rewire it over time. Exciting!

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As the Buddha reminds us,

"You only lose what you cling to."

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So, notice this example: we want to make plans to go out to lunch. In the morning, the thought of Indian food comes up—oh, the curry and yummy samosas! Great, Indian for lunch it is.

Then off we go for an early run. Halfway through the jog, the mind says, "Hey, why not sushi? Doesn't that sound better?" Oh, yes, sushi sounds scrumptious! Some nice miso soup and green tea. That's it, sushi!

All good then. Off to work or other activities, mid-morning arrives, it comes again... naw, how about just a nice salad at the restaurant next to the park? That sounds better. The weather is so lovely, it is walking distance, and the terrace has a fantastic view. This choice is just wonderful, actually.

Back to our daily activities, and out of nowhere, a huge craving for Greek food appears. Oh my, I haven't had Greek in so long; that sounds amazing! Just then, the phone beeps—a pesky reminder that we have an appointment at noon. Oh well, now there is only time to order take-away on the ride there. Jeez.

The mind does this so many times, with so many different things throughout our day. Are we aware? Can we tap in and notice this? It can be quite shocking if we are not used to observing our own internal workings.

We notice we just might be that kid who isn't quite sure which toy to play with, or when to play with it, or whether to go outside and play on the slide or the monkey bars. This is normal, as we wouldn't be human if we didn't experience these fluctuations of the mind.

These simple examples do not even scratch the surface of our intricate web of design within. It goes deep and is strong, just like the Wizard of Oz, hidden behind the scenes yet very much in control. We tend to just fly with the wind, like a kite taking over even when we think we have it under control; it is doing its own thing, it is in control.

By incorporating mindfulness practices and awareness into our moments, we train our monkey mind to settle a bit. Instead of swinging from branch to branch, darting and climbing in every direction, we can calm it down, creating a peaceful mind.

Just stop, notice our breath, and let the thoughts drift by as if watching a train appear. As each car goes by, we notice it, yet we don't hop on. Observing the train, knowing we are the witness, it just rides on by, and little by little, with practice, we become free from the constant attachment to our thoughts.

By allowing the train to pass, and not catching a ride, over time, our true intentions and inner spaces will reveal their depth and peace. This is a place of freedom, where solutions appear and distractions diminish. A true calming comes over the mind and body.

Then, experiencing this, we can just go have lunch.

Cheers!

Kether

Spunky Mind

"The riper the rice,

the more deeply it bows"

Japanese Proverb