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mind? You need to live in the present, and think positively and constructively. Avoid negative and destructive thoughts. You only lose your time and energy in negative thoughts. At this moment, if you have positive and constructive thoughts, your future will be better; the present becomes the past. Every moment we are creating our destiny, so this moment is valuable, and only present is this moment. Live in the present; think positive. In positive thinking we gain energy and peace of mind.
The next thing is that reactions make our mind to waver. There are two states of mind: action and reaction. We mostly live in a reactionary state. Watch your mind and look at your life. You will be surprised that most of the time you are in a reaction state. Where there is reaction, there is stress; where there is stress, there is uneasiness. Actions are for a short time. But reactions go on for hours and hours, days and days, months and months, and sometimes years and years. In your daily life, be observant of what goes on in your mind and you will soon find that only reactions exist, and those reactions are meaningless.
One person came to a city. The time was midnight. He didn't know anyone in town and was wondering where to spend the night. After walking, he saw a hotel, went inside, and told the manager, “I need one room." The manager said, "Sorry, the hotel is fully booked, there is no vacancy.” The person continued to say, "Where will I go at this time of night, it is very dark and cold. I am new to this city, and I don't know anyone?” The man persisted with his request to the manager to arrange for a room. The manager said, “We have one spare room, but we don't give that room to anyone." The person was surprised and asked, "Why don't you give that room to anyone?” The manager said, “Because below that room lives the owner of the hotel, and he has a very big problem. If any type of sound comes from the upper room, he becomes very upset, and disturbed. He is very sensitive and crazy so we
keep the room vacant. If you don't make any sound or any noise, I can give you that room." The person said, "Why will I have any reason to make noise? I will go to bed, keep silent, and vacate the room early in the morning.” The manager finally agreed to give him the room. The person became very happy. He went to the room, opened the door, entered the room, and took off one shoe. Out of habit, he threw the shoe on the ground, making a loud noise. This action was a result of his habit. Our habits work unconsciously. He thought for a brief moment, and said "I will not make any more noise." He became aware of his actions, then very consciously took off his other shoe, and placed it on the ground quietly, and proceeded to go to bed. After 2 hours, the owner of the hotel came upstairs and knocked on the person's door. The person opened the door and asked, "What's the matter?" The owner said “The matter is this...2 hours ago you took off one shoe, and I heard that sound. But what happened to the other shoe? I was wondering and waiting for 2 hours and did not hear the sound of the other shoe hitting the ground. Do you only have one shoe or did you not take off your other shoe...I have been thinking and waiting for 2 hours, what is the matter?” This is the reaction - the person who made the noise was able to fall into deep sleep without any problem; however, the person who heard the noise was disturbed and upset. How was he disturbed? On account of meaningless reaction, otherwise he could also sleep peacefully. Where there is reaction, there is no peace, no sleep, and no relaxation.
Avoid meaningless and useless reactions. Don't waste your energy and time in reactions. Live in action and live in the present. Your mind will be still, quiet, and calm. Then you can fully concentrate your mind.
Second, the nature of our mind is to make up stories that are baseless, and meaningless. Sometimes you sit quietly alone, and watch your mind. If you honestly watch, you will be sur
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Jain Education Interational 2010_03
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