Enjoy the “long while”

 To understand how delusion arises, practice watching your mind. Begin by simply letting it relax. Without thinking of the past or the future, without feeling hope or fear about this thing or that, let it rest comfortably, open and natural. In this space of the mind, there is no problem, no suffering. Then something catches your attention - an image, a sound, a smell. Your mind splits into inner and outer, self and other, subject and object. In simply perceiving the object, there is still no problem. But when you zero in on it, you notice that it's big or small, white or black, square or circular; and then you make a judgment - for example, whether it's pretty or ugly. Having made that judgment, you react to it: you decide you like it or don't like it. That's when the problem starts, because "I like it" leads to "I want it." We want to possess what we perceive to be desirable. Similarly, "I don't like it" leads to "I don't want it." If we like something, want it, and can't have it, we suffer. If we don't want it, but can't keep it away, again we suffer. Our suffering seems to occur because of the object of our desire or aversion, but that's not really so - it happens because the mind splits into object-subject duality and becomes involved in wanting or not wanting something.

 Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche

 

When the boys were younger, I remember how the oldest often complained, “Papa, I am bored.” “Dann langweile dich,” I responded. “Be bored then,” was the response. I spoke German at home in those days and the word for boredom is Langeweile—long while. What a beautiful expression. We can use the long while to see what thoughts bubble to the surface and see how these little trains of thought start taking off and what feelings they generate. I would call this one-hour session of mindful studying the long while applied meditation. We do not aspire to generate silence within, we study the interferences that prevent us from enjoying the inner silence that is always at our disposal. Practice Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche’s observation technique for a while and please let us know if you find it helpful.