BuddhaAwake
Active Member
In another post I admitted I wasn't sure why I awoke so fully this time to the reality of my PA and my determination to recover.
I reread a passage last night from a text that seems to explain what is different this time. It is from a Buddhist text but I offer it as psychology/philosophy, not religion (I don't have an altar or pray to Lord Buddha).
I hope it will be of use to someone:
"I am as if benumbed by sorcery,
As if reduced to total mindlessness.
I do not know what dulls my wits.
O what is it that has me in its grip?
Anger, lust, these enemies of mine,
Are limbless and devoid of faculties.
They have no bravery, no cleverness;
How then have they reduced me to such slavery?
Wandering where it will, the elephant of mind,
Will bring us down to torment in the hell of Unrelenting Pain.
No worldly beast, however wild and crazed,
Could bring upon us such calamities.
If, with mindfulness? rope,
The elephant of mind is tethered all around,
Our fears will come to nothing,
Every virtue drop into our hands.
By simple binding of this mind alone,
All these things are likewise bound.
By simple taming of this mind alone,
All these things are likewise tamed.
To cover all the earth with sheets of leather?
Where could such amounts of skin be found?
But with the leather soles of just my shoes
It is as though I cover all the earth!
And thus the outer course of things
I myself cannot restrain.
But let me just restrain my mind,
And what is left to be restrained?"
These words have affected a sea-change in my outlook and behavior and are the best description of the process I can offer.
I reread a passage last night from a text that seems to explain what is different this time. It is from a Buddhist text but I offer it as psychology/philosophy, not religion (I don't have an altar or pray to Lord Buddha).
I hope it will be of use to someone:
"I am as if benumbed by sorcery,
As if reduced to total mindlessness.
I do not know what dulls my wits.
O what is it that has me in its grip?
Anger, lust, these enemies of mine,
Are limbless and devoid of faculties.
They have no bravery, no cleverness;
How then have they reduced me to such slavery?
Wandering where it will, the elephant of mind,
Will bring us down to torment in the hell of Unrelenting Pain.
No worldly beast, however wild and crazed,
Could bring upon us such calamities.
If, with mindfulness? rope,
The elephant of mind is tethered all around,
Our fears will come to nothing,
Every virtue drop into our hands.
By simple binding of this mind alone,
All these things are likewise bound.
By simple taming of this mind alone,
All these things are likewise tamed.
To cover all the earth with sheets of leather?
Where could such amounts of skin be found?
But with the leather soles of just my shoes
It is as though I cover all the earth!
And thus the outer course of things
I myself cannot restrain.
But let me just restrain my mind,
And what is left to be restrained?"
These words have affected a sea-change in my outlook and behavior and are the best description of the process I can offer.