Unminding Mind - Keep in the Middle
सर्वं देहगतं द्रव्यं वियद्व्याप्तं मृगेक्षणे । विभावयेत्ततस्तस्य भावना सा स्थिरा भवेत् ॥
sarvam dehagatam dravyam viyadvyaptam mrigekshane | vibhavayettatasasya bhavana sa sthira bhavet ||
VBT Verse 40
The Sutra
"Unminding mind, keep in the middle - until."
Paul Reps translation, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones (1957)
Understanding
The shortest and most enigmatic sutra. "Unminding mind" means: let the mind become free of itself. "Keep in the middle" means: do not go to any extreme - neither thinking nor not-thinking, neither being nor not-being. "Until" - the word trails off, because in the middle, time itself stops. This is the essence of Madhyama (the middle way) in Kashmir Shaivism.
Original Sanskrit
सर्वं देहगतं द्रव्यं वियद्व्याप्तं मृगेक्षणे । विभावयेत्ततस्तस्य भावना सा स्थिरा भवेत् ॥
sarvam dehagatam dravyam viyadvyaptam mrigekshane | vibhavayettatasasya bhavana sa sthira bhavet ||
Vijnanabhairava Verse 40 (Technique 17 of 112)
How to Practice
Sit quietly. Do not try to stop thoughts and do not follow them either.
Find the middle ground: aware, but not grasping at anything. Present, but not tense.
If the mind goes left, do not go with it. If it goes right, do not follow. Stay in the center.
"Unminding" means the mind unwinds itself. You simply watch it relax its own grip.
The word "until" is the key - there is no endpoint to aim for. The practice IS the arrival.
Rest in this middle space. It is neither meditation nor non-meditation. It is simply being.
Duration
15-30 minutes
Best Time
Any quiet moment
Related Techniques
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