“Awareness is more like a vessel which can hold and contain our thinking, helping us to see and know our thoughts as thoughts rather than getting caught up in them as reality.” - Jon Kabat-Zinn
I read Jon’s excellent book, Wherever You Go, There You Are, fifteen years ago. It was a splendid gift from my older sister. I’ve re-read it several times since. This book was my first exposure to meditation. Various quotes come back to me on a regular basis.
This idea of awareness as a vessel is ringing truer than ever lately.
If you read these posts, you know that I think a lot. Too much, perhaps. I love getting excited about ideas and process. It’s in my nature.
I also know that my thoughts are not reality. I meditate daily to cultivate awareness, to keep a sense of the larger context. Awareness holds everything that I perceive, including my thoughts.
The more thinking I do, the more I need to step back and become aware.
To become aware of my breath, body and emotions.
To become aware of the limits of my thinking.
To remember that my thoughts are only thoughts.
Thinking is a powerful tool, but awareness encompasses more.
If I had to choose between intelligence and awareness, I’d choose awareness.
Today I strive to be aware first and clever second.
published .
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