Buddha and the Addict - Part 1
Addict:
I am not a Buddhist? Will this work?
Buddha:
Ha ha. Neither am I. I am a philosopher psychologist or something. But, that is not the answer you were looking for I think. Nothing we discuss today will depend on your belief in me or anybody else. Everything should be clear with a little bit of introspection.
Addict:
Okay. Will I be free of my addiction?
Buddha:
Not sure. I am going to try to light up a path. Whatever will happen will happen.
Addict:
Hmm… Okay, I am skeptical. I have tried a lot of things over the years to be free of my addictions. Seems unlikely that this conversation will solve anything.
Buddha:
Be skeptical. But, try to be honest.
Addict:
Sure, will give it a go.
Buddha:
Let us start with a small experiment. This is what you have to do. Close your eyes for just 1 minute. And in that minute, I want you to observe your breath. Not breathe harder or slower or anything. Only observe it. Seems like the easiest thing in the world right?
Addict:
Yes. Also a little boring.
Buddha:
Haha. Well, it should be boring only for a minute. So, I am sure you can get through it. So, let’s get to it, pull out your phone, and set up an alarm.
Buddha (Addressing Reader):
Hi, would be good if you did this too. Especially if you have never tried this out before. The rest of the conversation will not make much sense without it.
Addict:
Okay. I will set an alarm for 2 minutes from now.
[Addict Sets The Alarm For 2 Minutes From Now.. Closes His Eyes… And Begins]
[The alarm rings 2 minutes later]
Buddha:
So, let me ask you: Were you able to observe your breath for that minute?
Addict:
Well, if I am being honest, no. I was able to do it for a few moments.
Buddha:
Okay, then what happened?
Addict:
Then I started thinking about other stuff.
Buddha:
Like what?
Addict:
All sorts of things. The slight pain in my lower back. The tingling of my toe. Whether I sounded rude to you at the start of this conversation. How I am going to wrap up a project at work. How this is not going to work.
Buddha:
So, you are saying that you were not able to observe your breath for just a minute. You were able to stay with your breath for a few breaths and then got carried away by your thoughts.
Addict:
Yes. Makes me look like I have very little self-control I know. That is why I am an addict right? Is that your point?
Buddha:
Haha. Not at all. 99.99% of people would have the exact same experience as you. I was expecting exactly this to happen. So, please do not feel in any way bad about yourself.
Buddha (Addressing Reader):
Was your experience not like what Addict has described?
Addict:
Okay, so then what’s the point of this exercise?
Buddha:
Well, to show you that you are not in full control of your mind. Like 99.99% of people. You could not ask your mind to do a particular task for just 1 minute. It did not listen to you. It did whatever it wanted to do.
I would go so far as to say that your mind has an agenda. And most of the time it is using you to act out that agenda.
Addict:
Oh, come on. I am in control. I choose to move my hand and see, I am moving my hand. I am in control.
Buddha:
True. I am not saying that you have zero control. I am not even saying that one cannot learn to build some control. I am only asking you to see that you have very limited control right now.
I don’t know exactly how limited. But it’s very limited if you could not stay with your breath for even a minute.
Addict:
You know what, let me try again. I am sure I can do this for a minute.
Buddha:
Yes, please go ahead. Let me remind you of what you are trying to do. You are trying to observe your breath for 1 minute. That’s it. If your mind wanders to other things, it proves my point. If your mind stays with your breadth you have control.
Buddha (Addressing Reader):
If you are not convinced, you should also try.
[1.5 minutes later]
Buddha:
Well, how did it go this time?
Addict:
Not great. Stayed with my breath for a few moments. Then I started thinking about this conversation and how infuriating it is and all.
Buddha:
Hahaha. So, you were not able to “control your mind”?
Addict:
No.
Buddha:
Okay, so, I am not saying all this to annoy you. I just want you to see something. Your mind has its own agenda. You do have some control, but it’s limited. Your mind is more powerful than the control you have. Having done this twice, would you agree with me on this?
Addict:
Sort of. I mean, I always thought that the “agenda” was “my agenda”. You are trying to tell me that it’s not my agenda. If it’s not, then whose agenda is it?
Buddha:
Great question. I have some “theories”. And if you want we can go into that later. But, for now, let’s say it’s not “your agenda”.
I cannot give a definitive answer about where this other agenda came from. But, what I can do is help you to see what this other agenda is like. I can help you study the nature of this other agenda.
If we do that, you will have much more control over your addiction. Noticing that there is “another agenda” was the first step.
How does that sound?
Addict:
Sure why not.