What we shall discuss in this article, is something we have already discussed in some previous articles, but the author thought that it would pose as a good reminder to some of us.
In this article, as the name indicates, we shall consider how the mind is like an ocean. We shall explore the ocean of the mind!
There exist many comparisons, saying that the mind is like the sky, the mind is like a garden, and more, but using the comparison of the ocean is really a fun way to illustrate the characteristics of the mind.
So, with that said, let's explore!
Endless discoveries
When we think of the ocean, its vastness comes to mind. For those of us who have been fortunate enough to visit the ocean, we know that when we look at the ocean, it stretches out as far as our eyes can see, it goes up to the horizon and beyond!In the same way, the mind is extremely vast. It is limitless. Our whole Universe gets manifested from the mind. Yes, our whole Universe. Consider that, it is incredible!
With the vastness of the ocean comes endless areas of exploration. Some of them dangerous, dark, and rocky, some of them a beautiful paradise with varieties of scenery. Again, it is just like the mind, where we have areas of suffering and unhappiness, and areas of joy and happiness. All existing within the mind, waiting for us to be explored and discovered.
Let's consider another aspect of the ocean, a stormy sea. Some of us may have experienced a stormy sea before, and we know how scary and dangerous it can get. We find it extremely challenging to navigate through a storm, where everything is dark, unclear, and scary.
Is this not what we experience in life too? Some moments of insecurity or fear, moments when we are unsure of what to do next, where there seems to be no sun behind the dark clouds. Moments of anxiety, depression, fear.
Yet, just as every storm comes and goes, so does each and every moment of fear, sadness, depression or grief. It comes and goes, it is bound to impermanence.
Now, of course, nobody wants to go out onto a stormy sea. We don't like to be outside of our comfort zone, we do not like the feeling of not being in control. Yet, this is how we grow and develop, this is how we gain experience and wisdom. There is a saying that goes something like this: A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.
This is very true, and especially when we consider the storms happening within the mind. How else can we grow and develop spiritually and emotionally, other than overcoming obstacles and learning through experience?
See, these rough seas of the mind are just as important and as relevant as the smooth seas. In order for us to gain wisdom and insight through experience, we need to know and understand our unhappiness, our sufferings, allowing us to get to the root of our suffering.
As we have said before, just as a Lotus flower makes use of the mud in order to grow, in the same way, we can make use of suffering, in order to transform the mind into a space of peace and happiness.
Additionally, we want to consider the aspect of the ocean which allows reflection. Think of a stormy sea, it is impossible to notice any reflection in the water. All we can see are rough waves, sand, and whatever else comes up from below. Seeing a clear reflection in such waters is impossible. However, when the ocean is calm, the surface is smooth and we can observe crystal clear reflections!
The same happens within the mind. When we are troubled and creating a lot of storms within our mind, we cannot reflect clearly on any situation. This may lead us to feel trapped in a situation, feeling that we shall never be able to get out of the unhappiness and suffering that we are experiencing. Yet, when we calm the mind, we can see clear reflections, we can reflect clearly on situations, and we can identify the roots of our suffering.
Waves of the same ocean
Last but not least, we want to consider the unity of the ocean, the togetherness. Consider how each wave of the ocean is one with the ocean, how a wave does not exist separate from the ocean. There can be many waves, big ones, small ones, but they all belong to the same source.In the same way, we are all waves of the same ocean. We all come from the same Source. We are all One, and we have never been separate from our Source or from another.
Knowing that separation is an illusion, we destroy the cause of all our suffering, we shatter the illusion of the ego, and we can enjoy lasting peace and happiness, the peace and happiness which we have been searching for as long as we can remember.
To end this article, we want to mention that we are not insinuating that true happiness and peace lies within the mind, no. We are merely pointing out that there are certain aspects of the mind that are worth knowing and understanding. Upon understanding these aspects, we can create a completely different reality from the one we have been creating and experiencing all along.
There is a quote from a Tibetan Buddhist monk, Lama Thubten Yeshe. He said: Our problem is that inside us there’s a mind going, ‘Impossible, impossible, impossible. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.’ We have to banish that mind from this solar system. Anything is possible; everything is possible. Sometimes you feel that your dreams are impossible, but they’re not. Human beings have great potential; they can do anything. The power of the mind is incredible, limitless!
Let's read this part again... "Human beings have great potential; they can do anything. The power of the mind is incredible, limitless!"
With that said, we do not need to elaborate more on the mind. Thank you, Lama Yeshe!
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| Each time we see the ocean, we can think of the vastness of the mind, and how our whole Universe gets manifested from the mind, the same mind into which it dissolves again. |
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