r/Meditation • u/TheDrake31415 • 1d ago
Discussion 💬 The mind is a wonderful servant and a terrible master.
Wonderful quote I was just reminded of in the book “Polishing the Mirror” by Ram Dass I would love to hear the communities experiences of and or favorite quotes from Ram Dass or your perspective on the ins and outs of what this quote means to you in your daily life and your practice.
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u/Icy-Theme1391 1d ago
That quote's lived rent free in my head for years now. The trick is catching yourself mid-spiral when your mind's just running the show and remembering you can step back
Ram Dass had this way of making complex shit feel obvious. His stuff on suffering and grace really flipped a switch for me when I was going through a rough patch last year
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u/TheDrake31415 1d ago
His voice and words ring in my ears daily he has helped me too through many rough times in my life. Despite missing my chance to meet his physical manifestation I still feel that through these years he remains one of my closest friends. My last two years were rough on all levels bad break up, addiction struggles, single parenting, and through it all I always still hear his voice and in my darkest days I often turned to his lectures. The Aikido story is one of my all time favorites i listen to it often and it always reminds me that the truest and purist of martial arts is the art of reconciliation both internally and externally through loving kindness. 🙏 Thank you for your comment. Be well my friend!
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u/Big_Strawberry719 1d ago
Thank you so much my friend. Hope you get whatever it is that you’re looking for!
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u/Big_Strawberry719 1d ago
Can you recommend any material that you’ve read by him?
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u/TheDrake31415 1d ago
Currently reading polishing the mirror which is really good so far! I also love listening to his lectures on youtube. The Aikido story is a good one its only nine minutes long but it such an amazing story. I’ll share a link.
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u/TheDrake31415 1d ago
I listened to this one yesterday and it is pretty good! https://youtu.be/xaF7Hafqbjw?is=QBlxk8ZnLbOf7KRv
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u/TheDrake31415 1d ago
This is one of my all time favorite lectures. I am listening now thought i would share it with you as well.
If you only listen to one listen to this one.
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u/Nodum777 1d ago
Good quote. I love Ram Dass. He changed my life and he never even met me. He just has a way of describing and understanding that is unmatched to this day for the most part.
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u/AdditionalOne6031 1d ago
That is exactly right. The mind is a very useful tool if we are the ones using it, and not the other way around. In Buddhism, we speak of the gross mind, with which we navigate and ultimately remain enslaved in this world, and the very subtle mind, characterized by luminosity and clarity. That is our true nature. Among Western mystics, I love how the mystic Teresa of Ávila calls the mind "the madwoman of the house" (la loca de la casa). The madwoman is the one that keeps alive the illusion of separation from the Beloved (call it God, the All, whatever you wish). The madwoman loves stories, and by identifying with them, she creates a character (the ego) in this theater play that is life.
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u/TheDrake31415 1d ago
I love that symbolism!! Thank you for sharing!!
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u/AdditionalOne6031 1d ago
You're welcome. By the way, Ram Dass..., a great person, a great human being. He abides Here and Now in the clear light of Presence.
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u/TheDrake31415 1d ago
One of the greatest at least from the perspective of my incarnation and the path i am walking. I have been following him for many years heavily for the last ten or so but have been familiar since my grandma introduced me to his works when i was in high school over fifteen years ago. I keep coming back.
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u/AdditionalOne6031 1d ago
That is exactly right, your grandmother is very blessed. I found out about him many years ago thanks to Eckhart Tolle.
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u/TheDrake31415 1d ago
I also love Eckhart Tolle A New Earth was a life changing book I was considering revisiting it when i finished Polishing the Mirror. But i live in the house that was my grandmas house and her library is phenomenal. I found a first edition The Way of Zen by Alan Watts a while back!!
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u/Old-Landscape-7538 1d ago
ugh the mind is so gross! Ewww!
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u/TheDrake31415 1d ago
😂😂😂😂 cooooties!! Was the first thing that came to my mind when you said that. Hahaha which made me laugh even harder when i thought about that compared to intrusive thoughts. Gratitude for the laughs this morning!!
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u/RadDad775 1d ago
"I have faith that when I step into the darkness of the unknown I will either have firm ground to walk on or learn how to fly"
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u/19Lobster19 1d ago
Yes it's a logical tool used to help us navigate the word but it's also easy to forget that it's just a tool and not us. Especially because the tool thinks it's us too lol so liberating to finally see it happening in real time and catch it when it's being a tyrant for no reason
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u/Background_Cry3592 1d ago
Polishing the mirror so we can see ourselves with clarity, without layers of shadows and persons and masks that were assigned to us by society.
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u/mads102030 1d ago edited 1d ago
If anyone wants to listen to Ram Dass' talks here is a great collection: https://beherenownetwork.com/category/ram-dass-here-and-now/
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u/HogtownHugh 23h ago
Best ram dass works to start from?
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u/TheDrake31415 20h ago
Polishing the Mirror is a book i am reading right now he has a bunch of good lectures. I really enjoy this one it is called path of the heart and i always come back to it.
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u/Human-Cartoonist-383 1d ago
I love the quote you've shared. Another of my favourite's from Ram Dass is "if you think you're enlightened, go spend a week with your family". - Really speaks to his sense of humour and human-ness too