For most of us, a happy, productive life means having an active, adaptable, energetic, curious, and creative mindset. In the book Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, Elizabeth Gilbert writes that creative living is “living a life that is driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear.” She acknowledges a certain reality about the ever-present fear and assumes that circumstances, such as dealing with a pandemic, can push us in that direction. Despite our exceptional original mind, creative living stumbles and fear and anxiety can creep in. If this continues unimpeded, it reaches a point in which positive impulses turn more negative affecting how we manage life. It is then that original mind recedes, obscured by a bourgeoning, problematic shadow of itself. And as our life goes off the rails, we encounter monkey mind.
Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, identified our chattering intellect 2500 years ago as the singular psychological basis for human suffering. He used the term “kapicitta,” meaning monkey mind, to describe it. He identified the dilemma of the restless mind, diagnosed the source, and provided solutions. As a most gifted and insightful psychologist, his ideas are relevant for the uncertain modern life we live in. His concepts help us understand and deal with the anxious, fearful, unmanageable, ego-based thinking of monkey mind.
EXERCISE: How to Cultivate Original Mind
Practice Mindfulness/Still Your Mind/Present-Moment Centering
Mindfulness is an important first step in dissolving monkey mind and cultivating original mind. It involves learning to be in the present moment. Mindfulness meditation reduces the activity of the chattering and hyperactive mind. Practice mindfulness to help still obsessive worrying, and when that happens, you can access your calm and creative nature.
· Pick a time to practice mindfulness.
(You need not sit since practice can occur anywhere and anytime).
· Anchor your situational awareness to the present moment.
· Be present by focusing and centering on your actions.
· Attend to sensory experiences (sights, sounds, smells, etc.).
· Attend to mental activity and label the dominant opinions.
· Observe these thoughts without judging them.