The mind is a wondrous instrument, like a glass to focus the rays of consciousness. But when the mind is seen not as an instrument but as "self", then confusion and suffering result. This was brought home to me today as I read a wonderful book, Only That: the life and teaching of Sailor Bob Adamson, by Kalayani Lawry.
Bob had spent 17 years as an alcoholic, frequently getting into brawls, and, by his own admission, filled with feelings of resentment and self-pity. Bob spent time with Nisargadatta in 1976-77.
Here is a passage from the book:
" 'What Nisargadatta was saying and continually pointing out was that...the images, ideas and imaginings that I had about myself weren't the truth.'
"Bob realized the essence of what Nisargadatta was saying...He understood the mind was the problem and in clearly seeing it he thought he'd never get hooked in again. Then at the end of the session, when he walked out the door and into the street, he immediately got caught up in the mind. It was different, though, because having seen that the problem was the mind, when he'd seemingly get hooked in, he'd say to himself, 'Hey, wait a minute. This was seen through the other day; what's this about?' It would pull him up and he'd have another look and see that it was 'just more of the same old mind crap.'
" 'Those old habit patterns had been there for years and did not immediately stop,' he said. 'When the chatter of self-pity and resentment started up again, there was a remembering that actually there was nothing there and so it wouldn't last.' Each time Bob saw the falsity, it would lose its intensity and the suffering began to ease off." (p.41)
Everyday I find there is a continual process of getting lost in mind stories, and then waking up from those mind stories. Little stories like, "I wish I were somewhere else right now." That's a kind of story based on an unquestioned assumption that something is lacking in this moment. All the little grumblings of the mind are an invitation to awareness to see through the thought-stories. The density of thought is thinned by the energy of awareness. There's an influx of consciousness as the stories of the mind are seen to be thoughts and not reality.
The mind is a wondrous instrument, but the capacity to see the mind is even more wondrous.
What sees the mind, what is aware of thoughts? Who knows? Call it presence, call it higher consciousness, call it Timbuktu...There is a capacity to see through the veil of thought, and to rest in this seeing/being.
Mary, Jack, and I are running out the door to attend an end-of-the-school year party at Chris's school. Whoever you are, wherever you are, I send you all good will, as we together enjoy seeing through the veil of mind.
The book Only That is available here:
http://www.non-dualitypress.com/
Nisargadatta website is here:
http://www.nisargadatta.net/
Sailor Bob Adamson website is here:
:http://members.iinet.net.au/~adamson7/index.html
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