*If you want to understand your mind, just sit and observe it*
2008. Ten years ago, while living in a community in the mountains of Nagano, Japan, with some monks and other lay people, I would attend the daily practice morning and evening. That was the first time I sat, supposedly to meditate. After a few days, I asked Jowa san, one of the monks. "But Jowa san, what is exactly I should do, when I sit there in the half lotus position, with my eyes closed?" Nothing. Do nothing. Just observe, she replied.
DO NOTHING! Wow. That was quite an insight hard to fully grasp at that time, realizing how much my mind was out of control. [ ]
2018. Ten years later, with some other practices and baby steps in between, I completed my second 10-day vipassana in Poland. The practice of controlling the mind is basically the same. Do nothing. Just observe.
Simple to say, and yet hard to practice, it is one of the greatest and most beautiful teachings from Gautama the Buddha to humankind, still so valid 2500 years later!
And there is nothing sectarian, nor magical, nor mystical about it. Not even spiritual. No fireworks. No glitter. Nothing special is going to happen.
And yet, you experience the true laws of the universe within your own body frame in the most ordinary moments of consciousness.
I wrote a long post about my first 10 day vipassana in northeast India two years ago. Link in bio.
Autumn is here full of colors. All my metta-loving kindness to you all.
