Friday, October 23, 2009

Zen card of the day: The Mind.

The cloud suit in the Osho Zen symbolizes things that can "cloud" our path to enlightenment. Things that stand between us and the whole, mindful middle way.

The Mind is the perfect example. Many of us praise the mind, our thoughts are our greatest triumph. But what we forget is that our thoughts are temporary and fleeting. We might be in the depths of the deepest depression and still, sometime that day, we have to have a thought about turning left, or eating lunch, or simply "what is that smell?" Our thoughts are not permanent, and they do not encompass who we are.

When you draw the mind card, the message is simply to ask "how are your thoughts interfering with your self today?" Are you dwelling or ruminating on things that you cannot control, trying to gain a sense of mastery through worry? Are you blocking your mindful practice with the constant screeching of that monkey mind that we tend to think rules us? Take a moment to clear your mind, focus on your breath or a piece of music instead of the incessant thoughts that you treasure but you really can't trust. In the Osho book, the author says that "the mind is a servant." Allow your mind to serve you, don't be a slave to it.