Still the Chattering Mind
Adapted from The Secret Teachings of Plants, by Stephen Harrod
Buhner (Inner Traditions, 2004).
Buddhists have long worked to teach people to still the chattering
mind, understanding that this is an essential step toward inner
peace and greater consciousness. But some of those techniques can
create an antagonistic relationship with a part of us that is, and
is meant to be, an ally.
You cannot stop the linear mind, leaving nothing in its place. It
resents destructive approaches.
The work is simple. Do something else instead:
The key is sensing. As your body becomes more and more alive through
the activation of your senses, sensing is what you do instead of
thinking. Sensing takes the place of thinking. Awareness is focused
through your senses, attentively noticing all that you sense. It has
no time for thinking now. Your consciousness begins to move out of
the brain, leaving the analytical mind behind. You begin to find the
world that our ancient ancestors knew so well
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