You stand alone, on a platform, at a train station.
From time to time, a train approaches.
These are thoughts.
They have destinations marked on them…
anger, self-deprecation, joy, anxiety…
Almost all of us,
almost all the time,
mindlessly get on the train,
and let it take us away.
But if we spend a little time,
quietly observing our mind,
it quickly becomes apparent,
that our thoughts are not under our control.
We don’t choose the trains,
that pull into the station.
We don’t choose when they arrive,
and we don’t choose their destination
(this First Observation is pretty easy).
It’s also possible to stay on the platform,
and let the empty train just trundle past.
We don’t always have to get on the next train
(this Second Observation is really, really hard).
Some trains we probably cannot ever help but get on.
Like the grief train when our child dies,
or the terror train when our death appears imminent.
Other trains are fairly easy to ignore,
especially with practice.
Once the First Observation is learnt,
We can frequently find ourselves
boarding trains knowingly,
but unwillingly.
Sometimes, we can then get off at the next station,
rather than travelling to the end of the line.
Other times we can’t.
Sometimes, we may want to stay on the train as long as possible.
When enveloped by love, or joy or wonder,
we don’t care about trains or stations or thoughts.
We just want to enjoy the scenery, while it lasts.
Imagine how your life would change
if you could choose to not get on certain trains?
If, occasionally, you could invoke the Second Observation.
Imagine how it would improve not just your life,
but the lives of everyone that interacts with you.
The lives of the people you love most.
Imagine if you got on just one less unwanted train
every day,
or every week.
Would it change your life?
Probably.
