There are many people who train the body.
The body is trained by exposing it to a degree to an extreme – endurance, flexibility, speed, height, length, warmth, cold and pain. Then time, energy, food and sleep allow the body to recover – eventually strengthening and improving in a certain characteristic. The body does not improve by doing nothing or nothing out of the ordinary.
There are few that train the mind.
- How does one train the mind?
- How does a skilled and trained mind differ from one that is not skilled and untrained?
Contrary to the training of body, the mind is trained by not doing.
By renunciation.
By letting go.
By being, not doing.
Can one sit in a room and just simply be. No music, no visual stimulation and no pleasant smells (sense stimulation).
Try it and observe what happens. Does the mind wander? Is it a pleasant, painful or neutral feeling? Are pleasant, painful or neutral thoughts arising? Is the mind grasping at some thought or replaying an event? Is the mind thinking about and planning some future event or some past happening? Are judgements being made – this is good, this is bad?
These may be signs that the mind is not trained.
Why is the Body Trained?
The body is trained to look good to other people or perceptions of what good is. The body is also trained to perform optimally in an activity, for strength or endurance. Most often the body is trained to assist in longevity – to avoid bad health and prolong life before eventual inevitable death.
Why is the Mind Trained?
The mind is trained to gain stability, peace and calm. To lessen the suffering that arises and maintain the middle way – unable to be swayed by the harsh conditions of wind, rain and cold. At the same not swayed the other way with good conditions of sun, clear skies and fresh air.