The Way of Meditation Blog
Bringing Ancient Wisdom Into The Modern World
Buddhist Teaching On How To Calm The Mind
Lama Choedak • May 19, 2019
Tame The Monkey Mind
My mind has long been lost in search of happiness
Without knowing how transient all things are.
Seeing the unsatisfactoriness of real life experiences
I will not let my mind wander outside.
Turning back the forces of harmful habitual inclinations
And holding firmly to the peace and tranquillity within,
I rejoice in the store of joy I have discovered
In the happiness of observing the intrinsic calmness.
Let this clear and luminous nature of the mind
Not be overshadowed by my habitual tendencies;
Abiding in the natural calmness of the mind
Let me see all perceptions as nothing but mere reflections.
Without knowing how transient all things are.
Seeing the unsatisfactoriness of real life experiences
I will not let my mind wander outside.
Turning back the forces of harmful habitual inclinations
And holding firmly to the peace and tranquillity within,
I rejoice in the store of joy I have discovered
In the happiness of observing the intrinsic calmness.
Let this clear and luminous nature of the mind
Not be overshadowed by my habitual tendencies;
Abiding in the natural calmness of the mind
Let me see all perceptions as nothing but mere reflections.
Neither grasping nor rejecting any sensory perceptions,
I shall see them as adventitious ripples and waves
Of the sea of my mind in deep meditation
And absorb them into the ocean of clear mind.
As I focus my mind to sit in the correct meditation posture
Let the physical self express the deep yearning
To experience the calm, still and spacious nature of the mind
And transcend the problems I have with this body.
The incoming breath brings in all the positive things outside me
And permeates the whole nervous system of my body;
Like the rays of the morning sun dispelling the darkness
It soothes the pain and temporary discomfort.
As I retain the breath, let me sustain
The vital energy of wakefulness and alertness
Enabling me to let go and forgive the past
And to enjoy the fresh manifestation of this bare moment.
My outgoing breath releases all feelings
Of tension, anger, stress, anxiety and worry;
Like the masses of dark clouds suddenly disappearing
Let the adventitious circumstances elapse to dawn a new beginning.
I shall see them as adventitious ripples and waves
Of the sea of my mind in deep meditation
And absorb them into the ocean of clear mind.
As I focus my mind to sit in the correct meditation posture
Let the physical self express the deep yearning
To experience the calm, still and spacious nature of the mind
And transcend the problems I have with this body.
The incoming breath brings in all the positive things outside me
And permeates the whole nervous system of my body;
Like the rays of the morning sun dispelling the darkness
It soothes the pain and temporary discomfort.
As I retain the breath, let me sustain
The vital energy of wakefulness and alertness
Enabling me to let go and forgive the past
And to enjoy the fresh manifestation of this bare moment.
My outgoing breath releases all feelings
Of tension, anger, stress, anxiety and worry;
Like the masses of dark clouds suddenly disappearing
Let the adventitious circumstances elapse to dawn a new beginning.
Breathing and observing the bare moments of awareness
Without assuming what it will become
May I live every moment with pristine awareness,
Without waiting for an unforeseen future to cultivate it.
Following the wise sages by respecting their words of wisdom
Let me remember skilful ways to apply them in everything
I do, say and think, so that my conduct brings no harm to others
And I do not become a victim of what I do, say and think.
While watching the constant flow of thoughts
Without discriminating between those that are good or bad
Let me neither be overjoyed with my meditation
Nor depressed by my lack of concentration.
Sinking in a withdrawal of the senses
Is relaxation of the conscious self, but not meditation.
Let me not be excited by the slight virtues of concentration
I have just begun to experience.
Holding the rope of mindfulness and the hook of alertness,
May I resolve to tame this mind which is like a wild elephant.
Steadily focusing the mind with a moderate application of antidotes,
May I discover what causes its restlessness.
When I find no sensory objects which are not my own reflection,
All visions and experiences are circumferences of myself.
Like trees and mountains, rivers and the earth
My existence is to give and share what I have with others.
How can I cling to and grasp what I have obtained from others?
As soon as I let something go, I create space and experience joy;
As soon as I give things away, I find a joy not found in keeping them.
Learning to cherish others will bring me a happiness that will last.
Without assuming what it will become
May I live every moment with pristine awareness,
Without waiting for an unforeseen future to cultivate it.
Following the wise sages by respecting their words of wisdom
Let me remember skilful ways to apply them in everything
I do, say and think, so that my conduct brings no harm to others
And I do not become a victim of what I do, say and think.
While watching the constant flow of thoughts
Without discriminating between those that are good or bad
Let me neither be overjoyed with my meditation
Nor depressed by my lack of concentration.
Sinking in a withdrawal of the senses
Is relaxation of the conscious self, but not meditation.
Let me not be excited by the slight virtues of concentration
I have just begun to experience.
Holding the rope of mindfulness and the hook of alertness,
May I resolve to tame this mind which is like a wild elephant.
Steadily focusing the mind with a moderate application of antidotes,
May I discover what causes its restlessness.
When I find no sensory objects which are not my own reflection,
All visions and experiences are circumferences of myself.
Like trees and mountains, rivers and the earth
My existence is to give and share what I have with others.
How can I cling to and grasp what I have obtained from others?
As soon as I let something go, I create space and experience joy;
As soon as I give things away, I find a joy not found in keeping them.
Learning to cherish others will bring me a happiness that will last.
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In today’s fast-paced world, the mind often races, driven by the demands of work, family, and personal ambitions. Meditation is commonly seen as a practice to calm the mind, foster inner peace, and connect with deeper aspects of existence. Yet, one crucial element often overlooked is the state of the body, particularly the nervous system. Relaxing the nervous system isn’t just a preparatory step; it is foundational for unlocking the deeper states of awareness and tranquility that meditation promises. Drawing insights from my journey and teachings, we will explore why this is so vital and how it transforms the meditative experience.
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A fascinating look at what the scientific research has to say about meditation and the effects it has on the brain and the human condition.
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