“
when we think of calming down the mind and we become aware of what’s going on in the mind, we say ‘waow, there’s so many thoughts’.
it’s not that there are more thoughts than ever, you start to become aware of what’s going on in your mind from morning till evening. we are full of thoughts.
because the mind is like a spoiled brat, constantly moving here and there, reminiscing the past, imagining the future, and never in the present moment.
so try to focus your mind.
we say it’s like the butterfly. the butterfly stays on the flower, so he sorts of goes away for no reason then comes back. so, it’s ok, you will be distracted, but you should bring back your mind.
and so meditation will help you to become the master of your mind.
and master of the mind is not the absence of freedom. often people think ‘i am going to control my mind, sort of reducing my freedom.’
take the example of the sailor at sea. what is freedom? to let the boat wherever the currents and the wind blow? that’s not freedom, that’s drifting.
freedom is to take the helm and navigate where you have chosen to go.
so if you are in charge of your own mind, that’s freedom.
“
matthieu ricard
in
“The Buddhist Science of the Mind”
nexttime studio 