- The story of the Japanese Zen master, Nan-in & a professor of philosophy portrays beautifully the importance of having a clear mind before setting out to achieve anything for the first time.
The story goes thus: Nan-in was serving tea to the professor and kept pouring and pouring until the cup overflowed. The professor shouted, "STOP! The cup is overfull. It won't retain anymore."
To this Nan-in replied, "Just like this cup your mind is full with opinions and speculation. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup? "
Allow me to build onto this by sharing some info on the inter-related concepts of 'Excitement,' 'Negativity' & 'Clarity.'
As humans we occupy ourselves with varied commitments. Relationships, jobs, businesses, social responsibilities, etc. Many a times, it so happens that we take up tasks or projects purely on excitement. This is good for it will drive a project to completion. But the efforts bear fruit only as long as the excitement is sustainable.
For any new task, it is imperative to have the fire and the drive right from the get go. But once you get into the crux of the matter, you begin to see loopholes, areas of challenge and other such realities.
Before you know it the excitement has fizzled out like a deflating balloon left loose.
Aren't most of us familiar with that feeling?
But the task still has the same potential. Why then must we lose excitement?
It's simple! We are human. Brought up with the conditioning to have 'fear.'
Fear of what others may say, fear of failure, fear of success in some cases!
When an individual comes up with a novel idea, he runs around in excitement, sharing it with people.
eg: Edison, Einstein, Jobs, Gates, the list goes on. All these great personalities share at least one thing in common. 'Dream Stealers.' They can be fellow humans or worse still, one's own mind!
In either case, we always have two voices in each of our heads that influence the steps we take thereafter. A 'Pro-idea' & a 'Con-idea.' :) This works in vice a versa. For good ideas as well as bad ones. One small hint and the mind strives to prove the point unto existence.
But where the mind really starts to take control is in adverse emotional situations. A negative thought in this scenario can lead to a catastrophe in the long run.
- An unsuccessful venture - Sometimes people actually kill themselves.
- A failed relationship - This one has proof-a-plenty.
- A lost job - People forget that a job is replaceable, but not life.
However, if we confront the situation by examining ourselves and doing an 'Empty my Cup' ritual or any such act of self-preservation, we stand to gain an objective view of where we are.
Do an analysis of all aspects, improve upon weak areas. And focus on the positives. Do this and you will start to see results.
Here is where we can turn our lives around from a potential self-destruct to a rebirth of sorts.
Therefore I say, Loss of control over the mind, is loss of self.