The Mindful Minute
By Pema Sherpa & Brendan Barca
Age-old wisdom for modern living. Each week you’ll get 1 quote, 1 reflection and 1 action to help you lead a calmer, clearer, and more conscious life.
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Passing Thoughts, Empty House, & Freedom
Quote:
“Thoughts come and go like a thief in an empty house, in fact there is nothing to be gained or lost.” – Padampa Sangye
Reflection:
How are you feeling at this moment? Do any specific emotions stand out? Let’s take a moment to examine these emotions a little further. Do you think these emotions are caused by what is happening in your external reality or are they the result of your internal thought patterns? Upon a quick investigation, you may notice how you feel from a moment-to-moment basis often depends on the thoughts that go through your mind rather than your external reality.
Our thoughts can feel very real and convincing, validated by the emotions they trigger. However, in reality, thoughts are fleeting and insubstantial, like thieves in an empty house. They enter, rummage around, and then depart without consequence.
Action:
Right now, watch your mind like a curious bystander. Without judgment or attachment, notice how thoughts arise, linger for a moment, and then vanish. One thought makes way for another. Each of these thoughts, while insubstantial, has the potential to trigger strong emotions in you. However, as you watch the waves of these thoughts, you will begin to see that the choice of whether or not to be gripped by them is yours alone.
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