Just as the spaces between words allows us to read more clearly, silence in the mind allows us to perceive more clearly, and when we perceive the world more clearly, we act more effectively.
We get upset when we can’t control our mind. We think, why can’t you just be quiet. But the mind is like a pond, thoughts are like waves, and every attempt to silence the mind is like dropping a pebble into the pond. It is the nature of the mind (pond) to produce thoughts (waves). As Suzuki said,
“Even though waves arise, the essence of your mind is pure; it is just like clear water with a few waves. Actually water always has waves. Waves are the practice of the water.” [1]
You wouldn’t thrash around in a pond and expect it to be still at the same time, yet you thrash about in your mind in an attempt to silence it. You can’t silence mind with mind. You can’t silence mind with action or force. These tactics only stimulate the production of bigger and bigger waves.
To silence your mind, you must not act. You must allow the waves of the pond to still on their own. Without any action or force, they will naturally calm down and lose power. Returning to the wisdom of Suzuki,
“You yourself make the waves in your mind. If you leave your mind as it is, it will become calm. ”[2]
Take a moment today to do nothing. Be still. Be silent. Let your mind calm down. When the waters of your mind are still, you will bring a powerful awareness and freshness to whatever is occurring in front of you, and when you are present to what’s happening in front of you, you will be able to make smarter decisions, and when you make smarter decisions, you build a better future.
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Freedom in Thought
The Power of Doing Nothing
Just as the spaces between words allows us to read more clearly, silence in the mind allows us to perceive more clearly, and when we perceive the world more clearly, we act more effectively.
We get upset when we can’t control our mind. We think, why can’t you just be quiet. But the mind is like a pond, thoughts are like waves, and every attempt to silence the mind is like dropping a pebble into the pond. It is the nature of the mind (pond) to produce thoughts (waves). As Suzuki said,
“Even though waves arise, the essence of your mind is pure; it is just like clear water with a few waves. Actually water always has waves. Waves are the practice of the water.” [1]
You wouldn’t thrash around in a pond and expect it to be still at the same time, yet you thrash about in your mind in an attempt to silence it. You can’t silence mind with mind. You can’t silence mind with action or force. These tactics only stimulate the production of bigger and bigger waves.
To silence your mind, you must not act. You must allow the waves of the pond to still on their own. Without any action or force, they will naturally calm down and lose power. Returning to the wisdom of Suzuki,
“You yourself make the waves in your mind. If you leave your mind as it is, it will become calm. ”[2]
Take a moment today to do nothing. Be still. Be silent. Let your mind calm down. When the waters of your mind are still, you will bring a powerful awareness and freshness to whatever is occurring in front of you, and when you are present to what’s happening in front of you, you will be able to make smarter decisions, and when you make smarter decisions, you build a better future.
If you want more daily insights like this, subscribe to my newsletter in the comments below.

[1] Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, ed. Trudy Dixon (Shambhala Publications, Inc., 2020), 19.
[2] Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, ed. Trudy Dixon (Shambhala Publications, Inc., 2020), 18.
6 months ago | [YT] | 609