Unexpected Freedom

Unexpected Freedomvalues we hold at the same time as deepening ourcontemplations. What I find helpful is to appreciate that theconsideration of the rights and wrongs of the world – theouter world – is happening in one particular dimension ofour minds. Yet there are other dimensions in which we arenot necessarily thinking in such a discursive manner.Probably you have experienced what it is like when the mindis silent and yet there is still a clear knowing operating. Inthis dimension of our minds we are called to consider in adifferent manner. Here we can learn, for example, torecognise the underlying views that we hold – the views thatinform a lot of our more surface thinking. We need to beaware at these deeper dimensions so that there can be areadiness to respond confidently in any given situation.Much of our formal practice is concerned with creatingsuitable conditions for becoming acquainted with theunderlying views and tendencies of our minds.Compulsive Judging MindI was speaking earlier today with somebody about anunderlying tendency that most of us have – what I call the‘compulsive judging mind.’ There is a tendency in the mindto be always taking sides for or against things. It is like asports commentator incessantly going on: ‘This is good, thisis bad; this is right, that is wrong; you’re doing well; you’remaking a fool of yourself, you should be like this; youshouldn’t have said that, he shouldn’t have said that, heshould have said this, she should be here…’ It is an endlessstream of ‘shoulds’ and ‘shouldn’ts’, and the tendency tothink like this has been there for so long that we probablydon’t know how all-pervasive it is.When we are on a retreat we have the good fortune of92