The Committee of the Mind
Le comité de l’esprit-- de Thanissaro Bhikku
Il y a de nombreuses idées différentes de « vous » dans votre esprit, chacune avec son propre programme. Chacun de ces « vous » est un membre du comité de l’esprit. C’est pourquoi l’esprit n’est pas vraiment un esprit seul, mais plutôt une horde indisciplinée de monde : de nombreuses voix différentes, avec de nombreuses opinions différentes sur ce qui devrait être. Certains membres du comité sont ouverts et honnêtes à propos des suppositions sous-jacentes à leurs désirs centraux. D’autres sont plus obscurs et sournois. C’est parce que chaque membre du comité est tel un politicien, avec ses propres partisans et stratégies pour satisfaire ses désirs. […]
L’une des raisons d’être de la méditation est de mettre en lumière ces interactions, de façon à ce que vous puissiez apporter plus d’ordre à ce comité – de façon à ce que vos désirs de bonheur marchent moins dans des directions opposées, et plus en harmonie au moment où vous réalisez qu’ils n’ont pas toujours besoin d’être en conflit. Penser à ces désirs en tant que comité, vous aide aussi à réaliser que lorsque la pratique de la méditation va à l’encontre de certains de vos désirs, cela ne va pas à l’encontre de tous vos désirs. Vous n’êtes pas en train de mourir de faim. Vous n’avez pas besoin de vous identifier avec les désirs qui sont déjoués à travers la méditation, car vous avez d’autres désirs plus pertinents auxquels vous identifier. Vous avez le choix. Vous pouvez aussi utiliser le membre le plus habile de votre comité pour entraîner les moins doués, afin qu’ils arrêtent de saboter vos efforts, et ainsi trouver un bonheur authentique. Rappelez-vous toujours que le bonheur authentique est possible, et que l’esprit peut s’entraîner lui-même pour trouver ce bonheur. […]
Il y a plusieurs dimensions dans l’esprit, dimensions souvent dissimulées par les querelles des membres du comité, et de leur fixette sur une brève forme de bonheur. L’une de ces dimensions est totalement non-conditionnée. En d’autres termes, elle ne dépend d’aucune condition. Elle n’est pas affectée par l’espace ni par le temps. C’est une expérience d’une plénitude, une liberté et un bonheur sans impuretés. Ceci parce qu’elle est libre de la faim et du besoin de nourrir. Et même si cette dimension est non-conditionnée, elle peut être atteinte en changeant les conditions dans l’esprit : en développant les membres habiles du comité, de manière à ce que vos choix deviennent de plus en plus propices au bonheur authentique. […]
Vous pouvez penser à la dimension non-conditionnée comme l’eau fraîche dans l’eau salée. L’esprit ordinaire est comme l’eau salée, qui vous rend malade lorsque vous la buvez. Si vous laissez simplement l’eau salée tranquille, l’eau fraîche ne va pas se séparer du sel toute seule. Vous devez faire un effort pour la distiller. L’acte de distillation ne crée pas l’eau fraîche. Il fait simplement ressortir l’eau fraîche qui existait déjà, vous procurant toute la substance nécessaire pour étancher votre soif.
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Questions pour faire germer la réflexion : Que comprenez-vous par la dimension non-conditionnée de votre esprit ? Quelles méthodes pour distiller la dimension non-conditionnée de votre esprit ont marché pour vous ? Pouvez-vous partager une histoire personnelle où vous avez pu vous immiscer dans la dimension non-conditionnée de votre esprit ?
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What do you understand by the unconditioned dimension of your mind? What ways of distilling the unconditioned dimension of your mind have worked for you? Can you share a personal story where you were able to tap into the unconditioned dimension of your mind?
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10 Past Reflections
On Sep 3, 2019 dominic wrote :
Can some one tell me the Sutta that Buddha talks about the committee of the mind? I am unable to find it.
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On Nov 22, 2013 Sanjay Mali wrote :
I have a great experience about meditation. When I started it, for first 4 -5 days I just continued in confusion. Then a stage slowly began to arise when I started forgiving everybody ( ? ). Then I started praying for well being for those I respect and for those I hate. Then a stage came I was doing just nothing and time passed by. I was so fresh and energized after meditation that I remained always happy and worry-less.
Only thing I wonder is how I stopped it ? Is that also a stage of mind enrichment ?
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On Nov 6, 2013 Lois wrote :
I have acknowledged the 'committee of my mind' for a long time, have begun to recognize the various members which have produced much chaos often. Recently I have opened to listening more to the voices and 'sorting them out', and listening deeper to which voice(s) has clarity. This article has expressed simply and clearly what I've felt for a long time. Thank you so much.
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On Oct 1, 2013 Thierry wrote :
As far as I can understand, the author describes adequately the process one has to go through if one is ever to tap into the unconditioned dimension of the mind. The order that ensues being the outcome of a natural process, decantation, rather than an order artificially imposed by an outside agency, the conditioned mind itself.
He makes it clear through his metaphor that meditation is not an escape from oneself but just about the opposite. One must face oneself as one is, one's double talk, one's avoidance of those things that may hurt and that have been brushed under the carpet out of complacency. That this requires a sense of order and responsibility, honesty, much skill needed in observation, sustained effort.
A great master of meditation talks of meditation as the greatest of all arts. And this I understand to mean that the art of transcending one's very self ( conditioned self) is not only the most difficult by its subtlety but that it is primarily concerned w... [View Full Comment]
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On Sep 30, 2013 ganoba wrote :
I like the two metaphors. Mind as a disjointed crowd with each member pushing its own agenda.
Meditation helps the members to realise that they are members of the same family.
The other metaphor of distillation of sea water is also very illustrative of the process of meditation.
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On Sep 30, 2013 Rajesh wrote :
This is a beautiful passage. Thanissaro Bhikku has illustrated the fragmented aspect of the mind in way that's clear and easy to understand. I am yet to experience the unconditioned dimension but his reminder that genuine happiness is possible is reassuring. The passage also made me think about how working with one's own desires and those of other family members is indeed like a committee and everyone's voice and opinion needs to be given due understanding and respect.
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On Sep 29, 2013 david doane wrote :
My understanding is that the unconditioned dimension of my mind is the dimension that is in union with Life/Infinite Being/God, or whatever we call that Incomprehensible Mystery. I like the author's saying that the unconditioned dimension is like the fresh water in salt water. It's all me, fresh water and salt water combined, and part of growth, purification, and enlightenment is to distil the salt water to release and allow and have the fresh water, the soul, the unconditioned dimension. I think it's what John Dewey meant in saying that it is important for each of us to get ourselves in line with the moral axis of the universe. What has helped me is times when I am listening closely, paying attention, open to consider and learn. It's when I use my eyes to see and ears to hear what is and not what is my preconceived thinking. It's when I have the beginner's mind, as the Buddhists say. My sense is that I tap into the unconditioned d... [View Full Comment]
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On Sep 27, 2013 Conrad P Pritscher wrote :
It seems to me that the unconditioned dimension of a mind is a free mind. What has worked for me is noticing my present experience. I am helped every day when I say: "May I be generous and helpful. May I be virtuous. May I be patient. May I be able to bear and forbear the wrongs of others. May I be strenuous, energetic, and persevering. May I meditate and achieve concentration and oneness. May I be wise and use the wisdom for the benefit of everyone and everything." this is said not to a separate being as a reminder to myself that I am one with everyone and everything. As I notice that I am a whole which is more than the sum of the parts, at times, I begin to come near seeing myself not as one, but as "ONE". As Einstein said the true value of a human being can be found to the degree that that he gets rid of his separate self. Noticing yourself as the ocean full of drops and waves can help you see that you are more than one drop or one wave. As you notice you ar... [View Full Comment]
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On Sep 27, 2013 navin sata wrote :
when mind is 1.quite ,2.absorbed fully in unconditional love for all living being 3.when all positive virtues reflects in our daily living, distilation process is purifying mental and physical action,[in bhgvad geeta shri krishna explains as ones life must be like YAGNA] =where everything we do is for all humanity,including birds,animals all creation. this process reminds me coconut trees,it is always close to salty sea water,but gives fresh sweet coconut water,our mind is bottomless well,with never ending desires,rising and merging like sea waves ,in meditation when mind is quite we can experience tap in to unconditioned dimension of our mind,it is a must during the distilling process to do introspection of our thoughts and action ,without judging it.when we peel onion and try to take each layer out what remains inner most is seed.[seed of awareness,joy happiness all blissful virtues] when we are traveling in jungle its easy to get lost unless we have guide... [View Full Comment]