Summary

The article reflects on the chaotic nature of the mind during meditation, the struggle to achieve silence and clarity, and the eventual peace that comes with practice and acceptance.

Abstract

The author of the article delves into the concept of silence in the context of the mind, referencing a haiku that encapsulates the internal conflict between various emotional states. The article contrasts the popular portrayal of mindfulness as a serene activity with the actual tumultuous experience of beginning meditators. It describes the mind as a battleground where desires and distresses clash, leading to a restless and often dark stream of consciousness. Despite the initial chaos, the author suggests that with time and discipline, the mind can become less restless, embracing both the ability to influence change and the wisdom to accept what cannot be changed. The article also references a quote from Nora Allen on courage, change, and wisdom, and concludes with a serene note of a mind finally achieving silence. The author invites readers to explore previous haikus and a collection of haiku experiments on their Medium page.

Opinions

Mindfulness is not as calm and straightforward as it is often advertised; it can be a chaotic and challenging process, especially for beginners.
The mind's initial response to meditation can be compared to a "restless horse," resisting attempts to calm it.
The author acknowledges the messiness of thoughts, including dark "what-if" scenarios and mundane concerns like budgeting, that can surface during meditation.
Over time, with resilience and obstinacy, the mind can become more disciplined and less turbulent.
The author endorses the idea of accepting what cannot be changed and having the courage to change what can, as a path to inner peace.
The article suggests that achieving a silent mind is a gradual process that requires both mental and physical discipline.

Haiku — 0036: Silence

Be still, my heart.

What was that saying again? The empty mind being the devil’s workshop or whatnot.

A mind in silence,

Good, bad, hope, darkness, light,

An inner showdown.

A couple of weeks back, I wrote on tranquility (read here), and I wrote in passing about the thoughts that surge before the mind settles. Today, I want to explore that churn.

The first few minutes of meditation.

Mindfulness is such a strange thing.

The way it is advertised, it looks like a nice, calm, walk in the park. While in reality, it is far from it. There was this advert (for Headspace, I think) that showed the mind as a “‘restless horse” that should be let free, while slowly reducing the “free” zone.

Such quaint imagery does not suit a chaotic mind. I think that when our desires and distresses are both strong, the battle royale that plays out between the two is very messy. When I tried to empty my mind as a beginner (and even to this date, after like, five years) the thoughts were very, very very messy.

The what-if editions play out, each next episode darker than the previous, and then it goes into attempts at what I would call “repentant nostalgia”, and then the monthly budget scares the living brain cells, all of which while one ear remains open to listening to notifications.

Oh, the entropy of it all.

But, at the surface, I sit, like I have nothing to do with this maelstrom underneath.

A mind in silence (?)

But then, over time, that horse did get a lot less restless. Between cultivating the ability to think and act stronger, and believing more in my mind and body, for their resilience and obstinacy, and then there’s this great quote attributed to Nora Allen, the character from The Flash comics:

“Accept the things you cannot change. Have the courage to change the things you can… And have the wisdom to know the difference.”

A mind in silence.

Yesterday’s Haiku —

Haiku — 0035: Courage

Against overwhelming odds.

medium.com

For the rest of my Haiku, please follow —

Haiku By Day

A collection of my Haiku experiments

medium.com