Our minds have only one purpose, to figure stuff out. Even as we sleep, it’s what they do, constantly.
When a thought arises in our conscience, the mind must immediately do something with it. If that thought is not a thought of what is happening at that moment, the now, the mind will still take that thought and create something with it.
If it is a positive thought of the future or the past, the mind will create images of the happiness to come or the fond memories of times gone.
If it is a negative thought of the future or past, the mind will create images of worry for the future and regrets and anger of the past.
The mind creates images because, of course, it can’t create solutions to figure these things out. The future is unknowable and the past unchangeable.
The mind sometimes needs to draw on the past for data (“Now, where did I leave my keys?”, or the future (“The 405 is going to be a mess right now. Better take Mullholland.”)
A dog bred to hunt may enjoy chasing after a ball or playing with kids. But, it is when it is out in the woods, body tense, analyzing the direction of the smell of a rabbit, that it transforms itself into what it was brought into this world to do, it realizes it true nature.
When we become aware of the mind’s images and their importance, of which there is none, we can then turn our attention to the present.
To create in the present is our true nature.
