Don't Be Bothered

One morning, during the meditation period before breakfast, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi said:

Don't be bothered by your mind.

It's such a simple thing. Don't let the mind get to us.

I'm only bothered when someone challenges one of my favorite fabrications. At those times, I'd rather not be bothered by you.

But Roshi suggests a different way.

I can sometimes work with mind in this way. It takes practice.

And sometimes I just can't get there (or, more honestly, I don't want to get there). We'll see . . .

Comments

[Timothy]

thanks for sharing, Barry...
I'm going to work on this for the next week.

Especially being here in Egypt... I think most of my problems and concerns are created out of my own mind. Sometimes spending so much time in your own head can be wonderful and reflective.
Sometimes... well, sometimes not.

[Suzanne]

AHHHH! That's the perfect description of life as it is, or seems to be, for me: I am not bothered by my mind. It can do what it likes. Doesn't bother me in the least! Rather fond of it actually.

[Genju]

My mind's my best friend. Sometimes, on a weekend, we go out knocking over garbage cans. Sometimes we wander into bad neighborhoods (apologies to the female comic I stole this from). But we each never go anywhere alone! ;-)

[Barry Briggs]

Thanks for your comments - Tim, Suzanne, and Genju!