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A powerful quote, from the Third Zen Patriarch, the 6th Century, CE

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I sometimes go to a Wednesday morning meditation group at a special center named Spirit Rock…a few weeks ago, the leader of the group discussed this quote and it’s implications…. and suggested that this quote be imprinted onto pencils and given to members of the group, as an inspiring reminder.

And so, I ordered a gross of pencils…
144 reminders of a very insightful and special idea…

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There’s something about opening a box of 144 reminders….and having those reminders sitting right there on the kitchen shelf for many days….just quietly reminding me that although I may have opinions, to cherish them less dearly….

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As I’ve become more aware of how often (!!!) I seem to have opinions bouncing around in my mind  (I had no idea how many opinions I have until I started noticing my thoughts… not a pleasant surprise), I started to try to develop a greater awareness of what those opinions might be, how they seem to develop in my own mind  and perhaps the minds of others…and to try to reason with them, to loosen them up, to develop greater acceptance and understanding of the development of “preferences” and “opinions”….to learn that we, of course, will continue to HAVE opinions, but to recognize them as opinions, not facts, and to CHERISH them less fervently.

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Here are  some ideas I’ve been coming up with

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To begin to notice when I have opinions,
to listen carefully for these words,
to recognize the extremes of opinions that might happen in my own mind…
both in the positive and negative directions…
the either “THIS or THAT” of those opinions
the “fix-ness”…
the potential “rigidity”
and to loosen up the mind’s reactions, as much as I can
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Opening the mind to the awareness of the mid-range…
moderation…understanding….acceptance….

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To learn to develop more awareness, recognition and understanding,
to practice, practice, practice

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Learning to loosen up and develop more flexibility
in my opinions about myself and others,
learning to cease cherishing the many opinions
that pop in and out of the mind
Realizing, that …
each of us is doing the best we that we can

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opinions and preferences
preferences and opinions
to let go, as much as possible
of those potentially problematic preferences

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Perhaps a more contemporary way of phrasing that…
for developing more awareness in our everyday lives…

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Those of you who follow this blog may know that the “pocket” of Pocket Perspectives refers to the little reminder cards that I keep in my pockets each day…and so…printable pocket cards…potentially helpful reminders….

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Related posts:

How these ideas tie in with the  Eight Wordly Concerns

April, 2011: ““I do have a preference, and this isn’t it”

September, 2012: “Of course it’s speculation! What do I know?”