| By quieting the mind and bringing it to a state of | | | | Recognize that you are your world. The Upanishads |
| wholeness, the mind reveals its deep intelligence. | | | | urge us to recognize all beings in the self and the self |
| Spiritual culture often depicts the mind as the bad guy. | | | | in all beings. Contemplate this notion as you interact |
| We often recognize the mind as the source of our | | | | with your neighbors and your family. Take on this |
| disconnection and the instrument that scatters and | | | | challenge as you read the newspaper or when you |
| shatters our sense of well-being. In meditation, we | | | | consider your political leaders. This practice dissolves |
| move toward a quiet and disengaged mind. The Yoga | | | | blame. Blame feeds the conflicted mind. The less the |
| Sutras tell us right upfront that our mission is to | | | | mind has to blame, the more peaceful the mind |
| "unthink." Swami Satchidananda translates verse two | | | | becomes. As the mind becomes an instrument of |
| of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras this way: "The restraint of | | | | peace, so does your world. |
| the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga." | | | | Step Two |
| And yet, we think as naturally as we breathe. We think | | | | Speak your truth. This is not to be confused with |
| incessantly. So, how do we go from automatic thinking | | | | reporting about conditions. Just because something |
| to no thinking? | | | | terrible may have happened, it is not necessarily your |
| It helps to have a ramp. It helps to have a system that | | | | truth to speak about it. Your truth can be found in |
| allows the mind to think, and yet, by its thinking, it leads | | | | words that feel like nectar as they flow from your lips. |
| to no thinking. Or more integrated thinking. Or more | | | | They soothe a difficult situation. They uplift you and |
| "whole" thinking. | | | | others. You can recognize their truth because |
| Rather than screeching on the brakes and crashing | | | | everyone within earshot feels better from having |
| into your thoughts at high speed, it helps to have a | | | | heard them. These are words of truth. |
| way to gradually and naturally decelerate your | | | | Step Three |
| thoughts so that you glide into higher states of | | | | Know when to keep silent. If speaking something that |
| awareness in mediation. | | | | seems to be your truth will cause harm or injury to |
| By approaching the mind in a nonresistant mood, we | | | | yourself or another, that is the time to remain quiet. |
| immediately dissolve one of its biggest obstacles. In | | | | Step two (speak your truth) does not command you |
| fact, it is the mind that has decided that the mind is a | | | | to go around telling everyone everything you don't like |
| problem! | | | | about them. Knowing when to hold your tongue (and |
| Here are three steps you can take to begin the | | | | enjoying the deliberate silence) is a cause and an |
| process of preparation for mediation. With this | | | | effect of wisdom. |
| approach, you achieve greater wisdom and more | | | | By approaching the mind with honor, friendship, and |
| precise intelligence. As you honor your mind and treat it | | | | respect, we bring its chaotic and conflicted waves of |
| with love and respect, it reveals its true brilliance. | | | | activity into a harmonious and beneficial hum. I like to |
| Step One | | | | call this song of the mind "meditative intelligence. |