Expressions of Mind

Start with the everyday issues...

I didn't get the recognition I deserved for that project.
I really feel bad that I didn't do enough for him.
I am anxious about that upcoming job interview.
I feel like there is a missing piece to my life.
I really want to change my life.

What are the constant factors in these expressions?

You'll notice, as variations of these appear in your daily life, that these refer to someone. They refer to an "I" or a "me" or an entity which is supposed to be present in the body somewhere and speaks with thought and outwardly through words and speech.

They also mostly refer to a past when this "I" should or shouldn't have done something different, or a future when this "I" wants something.

These expressions also point to the belief that there is or was or could be something that isn't quite the way this "I" would like it to be and that there is an "I" that could do something about it or should have done something about it.

This is called knowing the mind. Watch the mind and see how this works. Don't judge it when sensations called "guilt" or "fear" or "regret" or "desire" arises in the mind, only see that it is only mind or thoughts.

At this point, it may be clear that all these thoughts are the product of conditioning, what we've learned, how we've been taught to act... we may also notice that thoughts arise on their own with no input or control. There is a thought and then a belief that the thought is true and "caused" by this "I".

Instead of believing the thoughts and what they refer to, ask - "Who is this 'I' that these thoughts are referring to?" I should have acted differently. Who is this "I"? What is this "I"? Where is this "I"? What is actually being referred to?

Daily life is marked by an unconscious stumbling through each situation, the mind running without much attention being paid to what's being said/thought. A situation arises and then this mind pops up with its conditioning and then judgment, anxiety, hopelessness, regret, guilt, and many other "emotions" or feelings arise.

All this happens because we haven't looked at what the mind is doing. We haven't looked into what the thoughts are referring to, or investigated the truth of this "person" we have always taken ourselves to be.

It's all about honesty. We say "mind" but do we really have a mind? What is mind other than a label for thoughts, memories, "mental" images, songs that play in our head that we can't make stop!

So "mind" is just a concept for something that is happening - thoughts. "Mind" is really nothing. Thoughts seem to be something but we encapsulate it all into the concept "mind".

The same is true for "person" or "ME" or "I". What is "person" other than a label for the body with thoughts, feelings, emotions? Is there really a separate entity in there?

Isn't the sense of being a person only a learned belief? Has anyone ever found the independent "person" in a body? We are mapping the genes and DNA of the body now - have these scientists ever found the genes for the "person"? Have brain surgeons ever found a "self" upon opening up a brain?

So what is it then other than a belief? And if it's not real, then what are you?

If there is no separate person or entity there, do these make any sense?

I didn't get the recognition I deserved for that project.
WHO didn't get recognition?

I really feel bad that I didn't do enough for him.
WHO feels bad? WHO could have done differently?

I am anxious about that upcoming job interview.
WHO is anxious? WHO could make a mistake?

I feel like there is a missing piece to my life.
WHO feels this way?

I really want to change my life.
WHO wants to change? WHO could change it?

TO WHOM are these thoughts arising?