The only difference between a buddha and a sentient being is upside-down thinking – Buddha
Who turns this into that?
Sound into noise?
Aroma into odor?
Taste into pleasure or disgust?
Who turns yes into no?
Grace into unkindness?
Who turns the present into the past?
Who turns the now into the not-now?
As-it-is into as-it-should-be?
Silence into boredom?
Stillness into restlessness?
The ordinary into the menial?
Who turns pain into suffering?
Change into loss?
Grief into woe?
Woe into the story of your life?
Who turns stuff into sentiment?
Desire into craving?
Acceptance into aversion?
Peace into war?
Us into them?
Who turns life into labor?
Time into toil?
Enough into not-enough?
Who turns why into why not?
Who turns delusion into enlightenment?
Who thinks?
Who turns?
All practice is the practice of making a turn in a different direction.
Whoooo…baby!
Enjoyed this little turn of the DNA…
Comment by Beth Patterson — March 13, 2010 @ 5:59 am
Question,
This post made me think:
How do you train your own brain to change its pattern of thinking?
Trina
Comment by trina — March 13, 2010 @ 6:13 am
Trina,
By practicing meditation.
Comment by Karen Maezen Miller — March 13, 2010 @ 3:00 pm
Yes! This is waking up. For me the first step is to recognize my upside down thinking which only happens when I am committed to my practice. It’s so easy to just let it slip but every time I do life offers me a banana peel and I am jolted awake so back I go to my cushion with gratitude!
Comment by Penny — March 13, 2010 @ 3:36 pm
Nice! yes, it is all about different way to be present. Simple, yet incredibly difficult.
Comment by Marguerite Manteau-Rao — March 13, 2010 @ 6:50 pm
when I find myself thinking, turning because it feels so peaceful and free, i am often confronted by many people around me. trying to control, pull me back, push me in… any words to help me stay strong in my turning? i find myself feeling so down when they do this to me.
Comment by Alyson — March 14, 2010 @ 2:28 pm
This has stayed with me all day, as I notice all the things the mind turns into other things. So freeing.
Comment by Jena — March 15, 2010 @ 9:14 pm
I do.
Comment by Kaishu — March 16, 2010 @ 9:27 pm