The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying...

Spontaneously blissful

There is a famous saying: "If the mind is not contrived,
it is spontaneously blissful, just as water, when not
agitated, is by nature transparent and clear."

I often
compare the mind in meditation to a jar of muddy water.

The more we leave the water without interfering or
stirring it, the more the particles of dirt will sink to the
bottom, letting the natural clarity of the water shine
through.

The very nature of the mind is such that if you
only leave it in its unaltered and natural state, it will
find its true nature, which is bliss and clarity.

So take
care not to impose anything on the mind, or to tax it.

When you meditate there should be no effort to control,
and no attempt to be peaceful.

Don't be overly solemn
or feel that you are taking part in some special ritual;
let go even of the idea that you are meditating.

Let your
body remain as it is, and your breath as you find it.
Think of yourself as the sky, holding the whole universe.




from 'The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying' by
Sogyal Rinpoche