Beside the Point
By Michael Erlewine
[Just at loose ends here and I listened to a lecture on how to stop thought and had these thoughts. I share them.]
According to the dharma teachings, there is no way to stop thought and no reason to even try. Thoughts are natural, like the rain that falls. We can’t stop that.
As for ‘thinking’, that is another story. And I don’t mean being aware or taking note of thoughts arising, but ‘thinking’, getting on a train of thoughts and riding all day and into the sunset, is a different story.
As mentioned, it’s not about stopping thought or thinking, as long as we think nothing of it. Thoughts come and go and are not invasive or even noteworthy. Thoughts are not an impediment but are just the natural play of the mind.
It’s not worth chasing anything down or pinpointing something or anything. There is no point, meaning there is no point. Anywhere. Ever.
When we reach the present moment, and are able to be fully immersed, it’s increasingly difficult-to-impossible to point anything out, because there is nothing there to be pointed out. We have lost our pointer to point anything out with, not that we ever had one. Why?
Because quite simply that’s not the point. There is no point if we have no pointer and nothing to be pointed out
If we are still pointing something out, we have not yet reached resting immersed in the present moment. We are not immersed. If we cannot point anything out, we may have reached the present moment.
Anyway, thoughts are not the problem, thinking them, meaning getting on a train of thoughts and riding are.
If we are troubled by thoughts, we have just not gone far enough into the present moment but are hanging back dualistically. We have to let go of dualism, as in being the subject and seeing the object out “there.”
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Full immersion in the “Now” is required.
[Photo by me of a Calla Lily leaning toward the sun.]
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As Bodhicitta is so precious,
May those without it now create it,
May those who have it not destroy it,
And may it ever grow and flourish.
