“The mind is like a room that is always full with all sorts of stuff. There is no free space there. When it is emptied, it becomes filled with peace of mind.”
~ Unknown via SuccessConsciousness.com
I’ve been diligently working on a project the last few days, and my mind has been pretty active. Today, it’s as though mind knows we are going to yoga. It feels empty, creating space for what my teacher will offer me today.
Because of other pressing priorities, I haven’t been to class in three weeks. I’ve really missed it. While I maintain a home practice, practice within a group somehow seems to create more space, as there is less ‘doing’ since I can get into someone else’s flow without having to think of my own.
They say that when you sleep, you entertain no visitors at your house, and your windows and doors are closed. When you want to enjoy peace of mind you have to let your thoughts go, and close the windows and doors of your mind.
I’ve recently been asked how I avoid ‘burn out’. This is the way. Through yoga and meditation, I feel I have gained significantly better control of my mind, and am able to actively turn it on or off, and sometimes simply rest behind it (which often gives me a good chuckle at the ramblings that are going on there).
Alan Watts says it like this: “Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes.”
“You get peace of mind not by thinking about it or imagining it, but by quietening and relaxing the restless mind. Worries, fears, desires, restlessness, nervousness drive peace of mind away. Meditate regularly, think only positively, aspire to find the consciousness beyond the mind, and peace of mind will be yours.”
So remember … Peace of mind is a switch. It can be turned on, or it can be turned off. Your choice. TGIF ♥
