Tekst uit: The Mind that Worries – Alan Watts

Part 1:
So then let’s consider first of all
what is a mind
in the grip
of vicious circles.
Well
one of the most obvious instances that we all know is the phenomenon of worry.
The doctor tells you that you have to have an operation.
And
that has been set up
so that automatically
Part 2:
everybody worries about it.
But
since worrying takes away your appetite and your sleep
it’s not good for you.
But you can’t stop worrying
and therefore
Part 3:
you get additionally worried that you are worrying.
And then furthermore because that (or it) is quite absurd
and you’re mad at yourself because you do it,
you are worried because you worry because you worry.
That is a vicious circle.
Part 4:
So now,
can you allow your mind to be quiet?
Isn’t it (or that) difficult?
Because the mind seems to be like a monkey, jumping up and down and jabbering all
the time. Once you’ve learned to think you can’t stop.
And an enormous number of people
devote their lives to keeping their minds busy
and feel extremely uncomfortable
with silence.
Part 5:
When you’re alone
nobody’s saying anything,
there’s nothing to do
there’s this (tick tick tick) this worrying,
this
lack of distraction.
I’m left alone with myself
Part 6:
and I wanna get away from myself, I always want to get away from myself.
That’s why I go to the movies,
that’s why I read mystery stories, that’s why I go after the girls, or get drunk or whatever. I
don’t want to be with myself. I feel
queer.

Part 7:
So well
why do you wanna run (or get) away from yourself?
What’s so bad about it?
Why do you want to forget this?
Why don’t you want to become yourself?
Part 8:
Because you are addicted
to thoughts.
This is a drug,
a really dangerous one.
Compulsive thinking, goes on and on and on and on and on all the time.
It’s a habit.
So there’s a difficulty
about
stopping that activity.
And you really have to stop it
if you want to be sane,
because
Part 9:
if I talk
all the time
I don’t hear what anyone (or anybody) else has to say.
And (or So) I’ll end up in the (or a) situation of having nothing to talk about
but my own talking.
And so in exactly the same way
if I think all the time,
I won’t (or don’t) have anything (else) to think about except thoughts.
So in order to have something to
think about
there are times when you simply
must stop thinking.
Part 10:
Well, how do you do that?
The first rule is
don’t try to.
Because if you do,
you will be like someone trying
to make rough water smooth with a flatiron.
And all that would do would stir it up.
Part 11:
So in the same way as a muddy turbulent pool
quiets itself when left alone,
you have to know
how to leave your mind alone.
It will quiet itself.