February 26, 2007

Years ago Aldous Huxley wrote a book titled "Island" in which he describes life in a community centered on consciousness and spiritual values. One of the unusual features of this island is a unique species of birds that whenever needed land on your shoulder and sings "Attention. Attention," waking you up from the almost constant internal day dream.

Without the capacity to bring ones’ mind to attention to the present moment a life of consciousness is not possible. Our usual mental condition is one of chasing our random thoughts, feelings, and images wherever they take us. This is an involuntary process that is our habituated usual mode of mental activity. Just stop for a moment and draw your attention to the breath by counting the in and out breaths. How long can you hold your attention before the mind goes in its own direction taking you and perhaps your actions with it? How much choice is there here? How much freedom?

Our day dreams are really much like our night dreams - random mental activity. The only difference is that our day dreams are stimulated by sensory experiences as well as internal mental activity. Otherwise they are much the same, empty movements of the mind that have no present moment reality. In the morning we wake up from our night dreams to recognize their fictitious nature. "Attention, Attention" wakes us up to our daydreams that are equally fictitious and disconnected to present reality.

So the path to a larger and more conscious life and health must begin by training the mind in attention. This is accomplished by practicing one of a variety of methods that force our mind to stay on a focal point and avoid grasping onto the background movements of the mind. With continued training under the assistance of a qualified teacher our mind can slowly rest in more ease, comfort, and stillness.

When this occurs we then have the substrate for directing our mind towards wholesome attitudes and actions, and of equal importance toward an understanding of the mind and how it works. Such an understanding will provide us with a more accurate knowledge of our life and of our reality.

This cultivation of the mind will lead us to a progressive alleviation of distress and suffering and the movement towards a flourishing of life and health.

Like the birds on Huxley’s "Island" we must continue to remind ourselves to stay present during practice sessions and during our daily activities. The more we become aware of how much of life is wasted in daydreaming the more motivated we are to develop a focused, attentive, and intentional mind. And as we do so and experience the fruits of peace, clarity, and a growing wisdom our initial motivation for practice will turn to confidence and certainty.

If we cannot accomplish such a task how can we attend to the mind and life of others in a focused and clear manner? How can we listen, hear, and know the right action to take to assist another if we are unconsciously and involuntarily following the random movements of our mind rather than the experience of another? So our own practice teaches us about the busy mind and the attentive clear mind. Knowing this we can transfer these qualities to the care and teaching of others.