Wen Tzu - Verse 35, Part II

from Verse Thirty-Five

The reason people use limpid water for a mirror, not a moving stream, is that it is clear and still. Thus when the spirit is clear and the attention is even, it is then possible to discern people's true conditions...When a mirror is clear, dust does not dirty it; when the spirit is clear, habitual cravings do not delude it.

~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~

The above passage speaks to me profoundly. For years, my mind was like a raging river with few, if any, tranquil pools. Whether awake or asleep, at work or on vacation, thoughts raced through my mind at a dizzying rate. It was like I had left the spigot on full force and the handle was stuck in the on position.

Needless to say, despite this constant mental activity, many of my decisions weren't all that well thought out. It wasn't that I wasn't thinking; it's more than I was thinking too much! When a person processes too much information at one time, important facts and perspectives get lost in the mix.

It is only when I found the ability to still my mind that sleep came more readily and decisions were made more clearly. The river of my thoughts flow at a more lazily rate these days and it's made a tremendous difference in my life. I'm far less manic and I've found a level of contentment that had eluded me for years.

This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.