Pointing Out

Many years ago, I had a conversation with Lama Rinchen in which I shared a personal experience while sitting on the banks of the Metolius River. I was chanting a mantra and had the realization that the mantra was inseparable from the river. Lama smiled and said, “That is your mind too.” We both laughed out loud. But something was different. My conditioned mind fundamentally changed for a moment; it went offline—and I felt deeply relaxed.

This is an example of “pointing out” the fundamental nature of mind that can occur between a student and teacher. It happens only when there is a deep trust and appreciation of the teacher, where any psychological distance dissolves within a shared reality. The exchange breaks through conventional thinking and points out the ungraspable ground of awareness. It can occur at any moment through a simple word or gesture when the student’s mind is open enough to experience the insight.

Of course, this happens everywhere in every moment if we are awake. Most of the time, however, we are asleep, numbed by the incessant chatter of the mind. These days people are also asleep in their social media and news feeds while tethered to their wireless devices. There is little chance to recognize the unfettered ground of awareness. If one were to create a technology that perfectly mirrors the deluded mind, we could not have come up with a better example.

So, what are we to do? Imagine if someone told you that all your suffering and the suffering of others could be eased if you unplugged from your devices for a moment. Would you do it? The same goes for habitual thoughts. Would you unplug from them? It only takes a fraction of a second to recognize our true, unconditioned nature when we allow our minds to rest free from distracted ruminations. If we have a teacher, they may point out the nature of mind in a very subtle or overt way. We might wake up in that moment, or it will be a dawning awareness over time.

Look at your mind right now. You are reading this because something in you already knows the above to be true. Or maybe it just piques your curiosity. Watch your thoughts. Watch the watcher of thoughts…Now rest in the space between watcher and watched.

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