A mind hard to steady

From the text

The verses say the mind quivers and is hard to guard and hard to hold back, landing wherever it likes. A discerning person straightens it as an arrow-maker straightens an arrow. Taming the mind, they say, is good, and a tamed mind leads to bliss.

In everyday life

If you have sat for even three minutes, you know the first line is true. The mind quivers. It goes to lunch, to an old argument, to the thing you forgot to send. One way to read the verse is that this is the mind's nature, not your personal failing, and that can take some of the shame out of a wandering sit. Notice the image it offers instead: a fletcher, someone who makes arrows, straightening a shaft. One way to take that image is as patient, repeated work, done with skill rather than force. You do not straighten an arrow by shouting at it. In today's breath sit, each time you notice the mind has wandered and bring it back, you have done one small straightening. That is the whole technique. Nobody is counting how many times it takes. The verse's own claim is simple: taming the mind is good, and a tamed mind leads to bliss.

Breath Awareness

Sit comfortably upright, hands in your lap or on your knees. After reading a cue, you may close your eyes and rest with the breath until the next one appears.

Start the timer hereAbout this session

During one ordinary task today, such as washing up or walking to the door, notice when your mind has left and bring it back to the task, without commentary, as many times as needed.

Where did your mind most often go today, and what was it like to bring it back?

Answer on paper, or in the app’s journal, which stays on your iPhone.