Beginner’s Mind

Functions of the MIND

The mind is hard at work. It is with us throughout the day helping to anchor our awareness of life. The mind perceives the environment. It learns and decides. The mind daydreams and listens. The mind thinks and reasons. The mind aids our expression with words. Where would we be without our own minds? Wherever we go, there we are, alongside our thoughts and mental capabilities. We tend to think from the center of ourselves, negotiating and providing reasoning toward our desires and wants, like and dislikes. We very much need the mind to help solve our most immediate needs and everyday problems. It can be our friend or it can get in our way.

Mental Attachment

A few weeks ago, I took the car to the mechanic. When the car was steered into a turn, a loud creaking noise erupted from the driver’s side front wheel. It sounded on the brink of falling off the frame. Naturally, I wondered what it could be and asked my husband what he thought. We each had our assessment based on car mishaps and breakdowns from the past.

I speculated it was the control arm failing. This had happened to a 1989 Toyota Camry I’d owned in college.

My husband thought it was the steering column system and tie rods. This had happened to a car he owned in his mid-20s.

It was neither of these things. Our mechanic showed us the problem-a pair of failing rear wheel brake pads. The front brakes were the only thing helping to stop the car! The physical stress and dependence was causing the strange noise. Learning the true diagnosis brought great relief, and of course expedited repairs and prevented possible further car damage.

It wasn’t had for us to overcome our incorrect guesses. While we’d been attached to our individual ideas , we knew the expertise of a mechanic would solve and repair the car. The simple story about my car repair simply illustrates that in dealing with life, our minds spring into action. There is a stimulus and we respond. We think to survive. We think in order to fulfill needs and desires. So much of the thinking we do , even when we think of it as our best, is egocentric.

It is here that resides the opportunity to build mental awareness of our thinking.

Building Mental Awareness

During yoga practice the mind is encouraged into listening, into watching. This happens through the mental activity of perception and awareness. Prior to the body arriving on the mat, the mind can be preoccupied. Actively directing the “looking-observing-seeing” ability of the mind promotes focus. The mind can begin to notice the body and the breath. Eventually the mind notices itself. When the mind becomes aware of its own thoughts, the opportunity arises to observe our own thinking habits and patterns.

Noticing Your Mental Activity is Yoga

Both on and off the yoga mat, in and out of practice, the mind is with you. How it is with you is up to you. Developing awareness of mind, your unique mind, and how it thinks and interacts with your surroundings is yoga practice.

Do you hear what is there in your mind? What is your mental content? How do you spend your time there? What is the tone of your thoughts? Are you being kind to yourself throughout the day? Are you thinking kindly toward others and your surroundings?

So much of our time is geared toward productivity and ensuring basic needs are met. We take care of our families and juggle many responsibilities at home, work and beyond. This all requires a lot of mental work and agility. Yet, are we increasing our suffering by being reactive and negative? Are we caught up in mental story which is hindering clarity and fair-minded thinking? If signs of overwhelm and frustration emerge then it is time to reset. The appearance of strong emotions is not a sign of weakness or shortcoming; it just means there is energetic overload at the moment. Give yourself break. It only takes a few minutes to reset and with continued practice, mental resilience increases.

Take a seat in a chair. Place your hands in your lap. Feel your back against the chair. Close your eyes and breathe in calm, breathe out peace.

There is meditation. There is mindfulness.

Mindfulness Practice

These practices can be exercised during mundane tasks around the house. Give full attention to the process of washing the dishes, for instance. Notice the temperature of the water. Listen to all the sounds occurring. Feel the textures and shapes of what you are holding in your hands. What colors are present? What hue is the lighting in the room? Is sunlight coming in through a window? What physical motions are you making with your body during the task? Can you dance while you do dishes?

Give yourself permission to pay attention to what is directly in front of you. Allow yourself to be receptive and open with a beginner’s mind. Treat yourself compassionately. LET THE MENTAL STORMS PASS. YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS LIFE.

-Namaste-