Unexpected Freedom

More than our Feelingslike ourselves and we also resent them. But why did we getcaught up in the first place? Through a lack of mindfulness,a lack of perspective. So the next time we are blamed andcriticised, if we can be mindful and feel the feeling ofcriticism, even feel what it feels like to fail, then the next timewe are succeeding or being praised we’ll be able to maintainmindfulness in that too.Sometimes there is clarity and confidence and at othertimes there’s chaos and confusion. If we give priority to thecultivation of mindfulness, not to what’s passing through themind, not to the specks of dust, then, when we’reexperiencing clarity, there’s a sense of presence there too. Ifwe are feeling confident and together, thinking, ‘I’ve reallygot it sorted’ then we can be aware that that’s what it feels likeright now. We are riding a wave but we remember the ocean.We don’t become the wave. There can be clarity and order inour lives, but we are aware that it’s not a sure thing, becauseeverything is constantly changing. The encouragement wehave from the Buddha in support of mindfulness is to reflecton the reality that everything is changing. So when clarityand confidence changes, for whatever reason, and insteadthere is chaos and confusion, disorder and lack ofconfidence, we don’t get lost in it. We realise then that thatwas the point of our effort.Inhibiting Unmindful TendenciesOften when we are making an effort to be restrained in ourattention, not to just heedlessly follow things, we can’treally see the point of doing it. It’s only later on that werealise the benefit.A young monk once went down to Bangkok to renew hisvisa and while he was there he was asked to speak at one of41