Dhamma Talks - Still Mind :: Buddhapadipa Thai Temple

Our mind is active all the time; it is moving from object to object. It is always conditioned by things. To calm down the mind is worthwhile. The calm mind can see things clearly as in the still water we can see our reflection clearly. If the water is stirred, we won’t see our reflection clearly.

The conditioned mind can cause conflict, as the Zen story illustrates as follows; two men were arguing about a flag flapping in the wind.
"It's the wind that is really moving," stated the first one.
"No, it is the flag that is moving," contended the second.
A Zen master, who happened to be walking by, overheard the debate and interrupted them.
"Neither the flag nor the wind is moving," he said, "It is MIND that moves."

The saying of the master reminded the two men to think about it and they agreed that it was true. It was because of their minds moving that the argument happened. Many times, we have an argument with each other because of the conditioned mind. In fact nothing is moving, it is only our mind that moves, as the Zen master said above.

How much do we know our mind? We should ask ourselves this question before we are in trouble or confusion. To know the mind is a great thing to do as it can help us out of ignorance. Without ignorance, no matter whether the flag or the mind is moving, the mind is still calm and clear. The calm and clear mind has no problem, but only peace.