Who Are You, and What Are You?

In that noisy jumble of thoughts and feelings we call our mind, who or what is actually in charge? Anybody? Anything?

Here’s a simple way to think about it: When you meditate, one part of your mind is trying to control another part of your mind. The primary goal of Zen meditation is to stop the conscious mind from thinking. So, the part you want to be controlled is the conscious mind. We can call it the “Thinker.” The part trying to exercise control we can call the “Boss.” Thus, meditation is a state where you, the Boss, is trying to make you, the Thinker, stop thinking. At least for a little while. Make sense?

During the thousands of years people have pursued inner development and practiced meditation, what we’re calling the Boss has been given many names. I’m responsible for a couple of those names myself. For example, I used to call it the Higher You. Or the Higher Self. But I found those names were confusing to some people. And translating those terms to other languages was problematic. Since then, I’ve found that calling it the Boss is clear and simple. What’s more, “Boss” is a word understood in many languages.

So, here is what’s most important about this lesson: You must become aware that you can “be” in two places in your mind.* You can be in your Thinker, which means you’re busy thinking at the time. Or, you can be in your Boss, which means that higher level being inside you is in charge at the moment, and it’s not letting the Thinker control you.

When your Boss is in charge of your mind, you are in the Zen state.

*As your meditation practice continues, you’ll discover another one or two “places” you can be in your mind. Or perhaps slightly out of your mind.