How to tame the still pond of your mind!

Have you ever looked into a tranquil pond or lake and marvelled at how vividly it reflects the world around it?

The glassy surface perfectly mirrors the trees along the banks, the clouds drifting overhead, and the mountains in the distance. But then a pebble is tossed, sending ripples across the water, and the beautiful reflection shatters into a chaotic, distorted jumble.

This is an apt metaphor for the state of our minds. When our thoughts are still and calm, like an undisturbed pool, our minds have incredible powers of perception and insight.

We can clearly reflect on our circumstances and make wise, thoughtful decisions. Our peaceful awareness demonstrates the depth and complexity of the world around us.

Unfortunately, the human mind is easily angry, like the pond’s surface. Negative emotions like anger, fear, or anxiety can act like that disruptive pebble, sending ripples of distraction across our consciousness.

Worries about the future or ruminations about the past can be equally disturbing currents. The more pebbles we metaphorically toss, the more violently our inner waters churn until all clarity and reflection are lost.

In this turbulent state, the mind is incapable of coherent thinking. We lose perspective, and our view of reality…