MIND is not an easy topic to talk about due to its intangible and non-existential nature yet paradoxically it is the mind that gives meaning of existence, very real. A good analogy to represent the mind is the sky. When we look above us, the sky is always obvious. Yet, the sky though able to be seen, is not “something” that can be arrived at. Simply because the sky is not a thing. It cannot be arrived no matter how far we try travelling to reach it, yet it seems to cover our planet wherever we are. In the same way, there is no one moment we are out of the mind. Not even during sleep or death! It is seemingly looming around in the now, taking charge of our moments without fail yet it is not easy to place a finger over it and say – Ha! Caught you!
The mind in reality is not “here” per se as it is not something that is in place. It can be felt, no doubt about it, but non-local. Strange, isn’t it? Just as the sky seems to be overseeing, making us feel as if we are in some kind of an enclosure, similarly our mind too at times makes us feel trapped, so much so that we just want to get out from it. Yet getting out was never the question as we were never trapped at all in the first place, except a kind of illusion at play.
MINE – And that leads to this word that always seems to be in existence. The mind is not something that can be owned as it was never a thing at all. If the mind can be represented by the sky, then conveniently “mine” can be exampled as clouds.
Clouds seen from a far, looks solid and real, and at times threatening with its darkness that overwhelms the sky. Yet, when we are above in a plane, looking at it, the clouds is not something that is solid or even touchable. It can be seen, yet cannot be held. And do you also notice that the clouds were never in the sky at all? In fact, both the clouds and the sky never meet! They are not connected in anyway except when seen afar.
What is “mine” then? The sense of belonging, of possession, mooted from the origin of I-ness, is something that is seldom explored. Because of its persistency in place, the “I” has been taken for granted and it is from it, sprung the world so to speak. When “I” is not fully understood and realised, “mine” comes to be. From “mine” arises ownership.
All mainstream faith has denounce I-ness as real, except an optical illusion of sort. Yet, this can only be spoken by those who have finally arrived in comprehending its true nature. It is not something for us to believe or even to follow. Doing so only makes the “mine” ever deeply entrenched into it.
The journey of awakening, or God, or whatever you called it, is not an overnight waking up. It takes skilful manoeuvring of a specific path given by those who have made it. Even that, it is severely dependable on how well the path has been articulated and conveyed for any pilgrim of faith to follow, else it can be misinterpreted in any way to suit each self-perception, making a deception out of it. The journey can be so near, yet so so far.
When trying to understand the mind and the little ego selves that we make, this is a very interesting and very helpful analogy indeed.
It could even be helpful to think of our little selves – our self concepts as bodies – as “cloud bodies,” as floating within the mind, of the mind but separated from it. As are the clouds from the sky. See how the clouds can appear so real, always trying to keep out the light, but always eventually disappearing. They play out their dramas of storms and sunsets as if to build and reinforce a world of importance and reality, even claiming the great sky as their own, but always they fade and die. Whereas the great sky in silence and in eternal peace remains un-effected and oblivious to the drama and conflict.
The spiritual journey, ‘The journey of awakening,or God’ is most definitely not an easy one at all. For this the cloud bodies must let go of their belief in themselves as separated beings with form, relinquish their tiresome cycle of coming and going and return to the Great Truth of formlessness. This is very frightening for the little clouds because they know not of the Love that awaits them but only of the lovelessness in which they now seem to exist. The true spiritual journey can only really begin when the little clouds become tired of their struggle and their tears and think “There must be another way.”
I am grateful for the affirmation of Truth that the above piece of writing has brought me, thank you. And for the chance to join in comment while on my journey into the great blue Oneness of Mind.
Kurt
how does “mine” come about then? a manifestation of the mind? why does it even need an anchor and thus all these illusions forth follow?
…in quest of finding out and understanding how i come from and why am i here.
Many Thanks
Arises out of our six senses in contact with any object, thus the mind appears. It is like a stick coming into contact with a drum and the sound come forth. It appears out of conditioning of what is there that promotes it.