Hi there,
So I just wanted to make something clear, that I have struggled with a long time: there is a difference between a "sane" mind and a sound mind. A sane mind is a mind that has specific thoughts, that make specific kinds of impressions on the mind - for example, you might think "that pink dress is unusual", that's sanity: you are making an observation about a pink dress and you are thinking a thought that reflects what you see.
Then there is a sound mind. A sound mind is a mind that has a general type of thought, the specific thought is not relevant, as much as thoughts in general having an influence on each other. For example, you might see the pink dress and be satisfied that you like pink dresses, that pink dresses suit the current kind of weather and that pink looks good at times like this - none of these things are a specific thought about that dress, but rather its pinkishness.
Sanity, tells you that you might do something about the pink dress (like comment on it); soundness gives you are sense about what makes the pink dress important. The same goes for being sane or of a sound mind, in general - you can be sane for a moment, but sound for a lifetime. This is because our minds are tools, that we need to both sharpen, and use. If we develop power over this, we can reach a point, where our thoughts do not vex us and our expectations not be too long coming.
My personal experience with this, is that the mind needs to be settled every day. I meditate for at least forty minutes, every morning - if I did not, I would not know what sanity or soundness was at all (or if I did know what they were, I would know that I do not have them). The point is, as much as you meditate, being acutely sane is only one step. Realistically, you should be able to cover a few steps of sanity, and from that cultivate a presence of mind, that supports like a foundation, your soundness of mind. If you have soundness of mind, your thoughts will follow after.
May you be blessed in your understanding of this simple truth and may your practice of stillness reveal God to you. Blessed be the one who comes in the Name of the Lord!
So I just wanted to make something clear, that I have struggled with a long time: there is a difference between a "sane" mind and a sound mind. A sane mind is a mind that has specific thoughts, that make specific kinds of impressions on the mind - for example, you might think "that pink dress is unusual", that's sanity: you are making an observation about a pink dress and you are thinking a thought that reflects what you see.
Then there is a sound mind. A sound mind is a mind that has a general type of thought, the specific thought is not relevant, as much as thoughts in general having an influence on each other. For example, you might see the pink dress and be satisfied that you like pink dresses, that pink dresses suit the current kind of weather and that pink looks good at times like this - none of these things are a specific thought about that dress, but rather its pinkishness.
Sanity, tells you that you might do something about the pink dress (like comment on it); soundness gives you are sense about what makes the pink dress important. The same goes for being sane or of a sound mind, in general - you can be sane for a moment, but sound for a lifetime. This is because our minds are tools, that we need to both sharpen, and use. If we develop power over this, we can reach a point, where our thoughts do not vex us and our expectations not be too long coming.
My personal experience with this, is that the mind needs to be settled every day. I meditate for at least forty minutes, every morning - if I did not, I would not know what sanity or soundness was at all (or if I did know what they were, I would know that I do not have them). The point is, as much as you meditate, being acutely sane is only one step. Realistically, you should be able to cover a few steps of sanity, and from that cultivate a presence of mind, that supports like a foundation, your soundness of mind. If you have soundness of mind, your thoughts will follow after.
May you be blessed in your understanding of this simple truth and may your practice of stillness reveal God to you. Blessed be the one who comes in the Name of the Lord!
