What Does This Say About Mind? (Wait and See)
by Presence
The state of being immersed in “what is,” is like a state of consistently “waiting to see.” This is not a mindstate because it is the awareness that one is not in a mindstate (a pre-conditioned tendency), because the mind is not focused on thought (which gives rise to tendencies). The mind is empty, focused on nothing, “waiting and seeing” whatever arises in the mind, or in the present moment.
As long as there is “waiting and seeing” there is not a state of mind, because to wait and see what happens, continuously, even as something is happening, or a thought is arising, waiting and seeing resiliently allows whatever arises to pass away. There is no one, no ego, expecting to see anything.
One remains waiting and seeing the present moment alone and whenever it is realized that the awareness of the present moment is absent, because a thought arose, all five senses are reinstated, and one waits to see if they diminish. While waiting to see if perception diminishes, there is pure, present, effortless perception.
Should a thought linger and the mind remain focused in that for a while, and upon perceiving that the ego should reprimand oneself for entering this tendency, that would be entering a mindstate!
Waiting and seeing, it is obvious that any word or thought that enters the mind destroys awareness, because the mind activates with a single word, a single thought, and begins to pay attention to mental commentary.
Once in this beautiful absence of separation, if the mind focuses on examining the state of mind, the state of mind disappears. If the mind tries to understand itself further with thinking, the effortless mind-state is gone along with the present moment, because it is effortless.
Waiting and seeing is easy, realize that it is characterized by being easy. If it is hard it is not waiting and seeing. Sense the easiness, and be aware of the state of the mind and body at all times. Don’t even think about the easiness, which would create tension and make it hard. And once it becomes hard, trying to make it easy again makes it harder.
Be aware that you are not letting yourself get in the way. But also be aware that doing that is letting yourself get in the way.
The cycle of thought does not end until one experiences effortlessness; the more the mind thinks, the more it has to think about!
So much wisdom in the simplicity of the moment of now. As you say it is hard to describe.
My understanding has the visual of me showing up without thought, empty as they say, with all my emotions and feelings available to me. Being totally emerged in this space is like being at the plate in a crucial baseball game.
Yes you have practiced, swung at a ball a million times and have reinforced your abilities and confidence with this complicated skill.
You have given thought about how to improve, how to mentally know situational pitches and opportunities but if you show up thinking, then you have lost your edge.
Thought slows down our ability to react. My mind was trained to focus on the release point of the picture, to pick up the ball’s spin, direction, etc.
My reflexes are so much more effective without thought. Look at this video of seals training to take action even when fear is present. You do it by focusing on the breath, slowing the exhales and k owing you can take action even if it is dangerous.
http://ptsdawayout.com/2011/05/19/the-brain-fear-navy-seals-12/
Marty
It is impossible to describe, because this ability to react perfectly without thought occurs only when there is no thinking. To call it anything indicates the past already, as one reminiscences about just how perfect a reaction was. Bruce Lee mentioned it at the beginning of “Enter the Dragon” when he said, “I do not hit, it hits all by itself.”
Check the book of five rings by the most famous and baddest samurai, who retired undefeated. his name is Mushashi, he trained himself and invented a two sword system.
He is one of the first warriors to use psychological warfare to defeat his opponent even before he arrived.
he used his intuition to know their move before they moved. He says when I am a samurai, I am no longer a father, son, or any of those things.
His identity is not helpful with his extreme ability to focus.
In the end he retired and invented martial arts, so warriors could compete without killing. In Japan it is the attaining of human perfection, if that is possible. Twice when ambushed by twenty he used the two sword technique to slice ine opponent then occupy that space since it was safe. Then he methodically sliced and moved till he was the only one left.
His skill and mental ability brought the sport of killing each other to the higher form martial arts. He also painted, scripted and wrote his book.
Modern Japan has not dimmed his spirit, he is reveered and used as a way to do business. One of the two largest battleships built by Japan was named after him, the Mushashi, sister ship with Yamoto.
These warriors actual gave up ther life when they entered a contest. Actually the perfect scenario would be to kill your opponent a split second before he glance your head cutting you slightly.
True test was placing yourself in danger or positioned so the competitor has a shot at you. This focus must be firm to relinquish protective measures. They believe as I do, that sometimes the only way to survive or win is to place yourself in danger in the battle.
Playing safe may not be a wise strategy. How many have trained to enter this space with calm.
I have seen that book before. Went through the book collection to make sure it wasn’t there. Usually when anything like that is on sale at the book store, I pick it up, and you can bet I am going to check it out when I get the chance. Love to discuss it further. Merry Christmas, by the way!
Yes Merry Christmas. The book of five rings ends with the book of the Void as in emptiness. The Zen Buddhist tradition both Soto and Rinsai produced so incredibly powerful warriors and monks.
steady minds trained to give up craving and desire. their meditation trainning was harshly learned in monasteries. It is like the Jesuit seminaries where suffering for our sins seems to be the path.
For me I have played for the drill sargeant type coach. Mindfulness and meditation does not need a person who is there to make life difficult as a way of learning the skill.
For me now, meditation is an eternally safe place to let go of all identity to just be. It is a radiating healing space of unknown or unseen joy and living.
Merry Christmas. Josh
marty
Here is some of the last chapter
The Ni To Ichi Way of Strategy is recorded in this the Book of the Void.
What is called the spirit of the void is where there is nothing. It is not included in man’s knowledge. Of course the void is nothingness. By knowing things that exist, you can know that which does not exist. That is the void.
People in this world look at things mistakenly, and think that what they do not understand must be the void. This is not the true void. It is bewilderment.
In the Way of Strategy, also, those who study as warriors think that whatever they cannot understand in their craft is the void. This is not the true void.
To attain the Way of Strategy as a warrior you must study fully other martial arts and not deviate even a little from the Way of the warrior. With your spirit settled, accumulate practice day by
day, and hour by hour. Polish the twofold spirit heart and mind, and sharpen the twofold gaze perception and sight. When your spirit is not in the least clouded, when the clouds of bewilderment clear away, there is the true void.
Until you realize the true Way, whether in Buddhism or in common sense, you may think that things are correct and in order. However, if we look at things objectively, from the viewpoint of laws of the world, we see various doctrines departing from the true Way. Know well this spirit, and with forthrightness as the foundation and the true spirit as the Way. Enact strategy broadly, correctly and openly.
Then you will come to think of things in a wide sense and, taking the void as the Way, you will see the Way as void.
In the void is virtue, and no evil. Wisdom has existence, principle has existence, the Way has existence, spirit is nothingness.
Forgot to tell you that the Bruce Lee quote is great, may borrow it. Thanks.
Have you seen “Enter the Dragon” Marty? If not definitely check that out, really any Bruce Lee movie for that matter. In the Chinese Connection, his ability is obvious. They had to slow the frame rates, Bruce had to slow his movements down so the camera could pick up his movements on screen.
….”By knowing things that exist, you can know that which does not exist. That is the void.” ….
That is as close as language will come to putting the void into words. And the tendency is still to miss the meaning, precisely because it is so simple, so literal. Literally speaking, the above quote equals, “By knowing things that exist (literally, to know that nothing is real), you can know that which does not exist (literally, to know that nothing is real).
Yes, Josh, I have seen enter the dragon many times. The Void.
That is who Who am I is so hard to know.
Simplicity describes how we constantly are not aware and walk right by miracles every day.
Just be and experience holds an eternity of power for each one of us.
Agreed
[...] “Wait and see.” Surrender with equanimity. The unpleasant feelings and sensations in the body arise with these thoughts, which pass away of their own accord. [...]