Hour 19 Meditation – The Mind as the Problem – Beyond Mind
The Mind as the Problem – Beyond Mind
Introduction: Getting to know the Mind as the Problem
One of the basic teachings Osho imparts through meditation is that the mind is the primary cause of all human misery. The mind, its constant thoughts, desires, and attachments giving rise to a false reality, makes us interpret life through a distorted vision. Osho frequently says, “The mind is a beautiful servant, but a dangerous master.”
In this module, we are going to learn how the mind—although necessary for the functioning of our daily lives—becomes the issue in our quest for peace, freedom, and enlightenment. Meditation is how we pass beyond the mind and into an awareness of pure consciousness, untainted by mental projections and limitations.
The Role of the Mind in Human Life
The mind is the center of our thinking, emotions, beliefs, and perceptions. It is always producing interpretations, filters, and judgments that condition us to perceive reality.
Yet, Osho points out, the mind is not the real self. The real self is beyond the mind and exists in a state of pure awareness, silence, and presence.
Key Concept: The mind is a tool that should serve the higher self, but often, it becomes the master—dictating our emotions, actions, and decisions.
The Problem with the Mind: Identifying with Thoughts
The primary problem with the mind is that we identify with it. We think we are our thoughts, emotions, and memories. Therefore, we get caught up in the never-ending process of mental activity, constantly responding to what happened in the past or to what will happen in the future.
Osho describes that the mind functions in duality: it splits the world into opposites (good and bad, right and wrong, happy and sad). These thought patterns produce tension, conflict, and misery.
Key Insight: The issue comes in when we think that our thoughts are reality. Thoughts are mere mental projections—they are not who you are.
The Nature of the Mind: Always Chattering
The mind is always working—a nagging chatterbox that refuses to shut up. The constant mental activity keeps us preoccupied with the past, not the present. It gets us diverted from our own nature and keeps us stuck in mental chatter.
Osho calls the mind a monkey jumping from thought to thought, never taking a break. It is in search of distractions, it lives on memories, and it always craves what is lacking.
Key Insight: In order to find peace and quiet, the mind needs to be quieted, but this means transiting beyond the mind.
Meditation as the Path Beyond the Mind
Meditation is the doorway to moving beyond the mind. Meditation is not a battle with the mind or forcing thoughts away, but a witnessing and letting go of them. Osho invites practitioners to witness their thoughts and understand that they are apart from their authentic nature.
Through meditation, we can transcend the mind’s ceaseless activity and become a place of silent awareness. This is a state of being that is above mental constructs—it is pure presence.
The Essence of Meditation: Meditation is the process of transcending the mind to the source of the mind, which is pure awareness.
The False Identification with the Mind
One of the most pernicious illusions of the mind is that we are it. We are not our thoughts, but we act as if we are. This identification produces a sense of ego—the illusory assumption that “I am my thoughts,” “I am my emotions,” and “I am my body.”
Osho describes that when you identify with the mind, you create a false self (the ego) that is in a state of constant controlling, protecting, and manipulating. The egoic self is rooted in fear, desire, and attachment.
Key Insight: The ego is an invention of the mind—it is not the true you. The true you is the witness, beyond the mind and beyond the ego.
Beyond the Mind: Witnessing the Silent Witness
Osho teaches that the only meditation worth talking about is not about cutting out or suppressing the mind—but rather going beyond it. As we start to observe our emotions and thoughts without getting caught up in them, we move into silent awareness.
This quiet awareness is commonly referred to as the witnessing self. It is the portion of you which is constantly with you, constantly mindful, and constantly serene, even in the midst of the turmoil of thoughts.
Key Insight: Transcending the mind is the practice of releasing identification with thoughts and returning to the underlying awareness which is ever with you.
The Silent Witness: The Real Self Beyond the Mind
The witness of silence is the essence of meditation. It is the consciousness that watches the mind, not attached to it but independent of it. Osho clarifies that the witness is the genuine self, not bound by the programming, conditioning, and limitations of the mind.
Key Traits of the Witness:
- Detached: The witness is unattached to thoughts and feelings—it watches them as they come and go.
- Present: The witness is at all times in the present, living life as it is, unprojected by the mind.
- Silent: The witness is quiet, quiet, and unruffled by the mind’s gossip.
The Illusion of Control: Letting Go of the Mind
In our daily lives, we attempt to control our thoughts, feelings, and experiences. But Osho teaches that control is illusory. The more we attempt to control the mind, the more it resists and rebels. Rather, we have to learn to let go of the desire to control and permit the mind to be as it is.
Meditation is not controlling the mind but embracing it and watching it without attachment. Letting go of control opens the door for the mind to rest by itself.
Key Insight: Real freedom arises not through controlling the mind but through witnessing and embracing it as it is.
The Mind as a Servant, Not a Master
Osho instructs us that the mind can be a lovely servant when it is engaged in practical means, like resolving problems or coming up with new ideas. When the mind acts as the master, however, it rules over our lives and takes us into anxiety, fear, and pain.
The objective of meditation is to recondition the mind, from being the master to becoming a servant to the higher self. We need to cultivate awareness, detachment, and the capacity to watch the mind without identifying with it.
Practical Steps to Transcend the Mind
In order to transcend the mind, Osho proposes some practical steps that can enable you to go beyond identification with the mind:
- Seeing Your Thoughts: Start by watching your thoughts as they pass. Do not judge or attempt to modify them. Just observe them as they come and go like clouds in the air.
- Bringing Attention to the Breath: Attend to your breath. This leads your attention away from the thoughts and into the present moment.
- Silence and Stillness: Spend time in silence. As you sit in stillness, let go of the need for mental activity. Allow the mind to quieten naturally.
- Mindful Observation: Practice mindfulness in your daily life by observing your thoughts, emotions, and reactions without getting involved with them.
Key Takeaways from This Module
- The mind is the cause of illusion and suffering. It formulates dualities and conflict that trap us in attachments and desire.
- Meditation is the act of going beyond the mind, by watching and separating from desires, emotions, and thoughts.
- The real self is the silent witness, which is beyond the ego and the mind.
- Passing beyond the mind is not control of it, but awareness of it and allowing it to release into stillness.
- The mind may be made a servant, but never be allowed to master. Meditation brings you back to your true self as the witness.
Reflective Questions
- In what ways do you identify with your mind on a daily basis? How does this identification lead you to suffering?
- Recall a moment when you attempted to control your thoughts or emotions. How did that work out for you? How could witnessing have benefited you instead?
- List some of the ways you can practice witnessing your thoughts while meditating or in your daily life.
- Do you think that the mind can be a servant to the higher self? Why or why not?
- How does the concept of relinquishing control resonate with you in your meditation practice? How may this adjustment assist you in achieving greater peace?