Have you ever said something and immediately wished you could take it back? To be human is to have a mind filled with afflictions (anger, jealousy, conceit…), that are like a hundred little bug bites just begging us to scratch. The sweet relief of scratching, giving in and acting on the thought, never lasts. It actually multiplies the irritation, making it spread. Once a mean word or act is out there, it’s hard to take back.
What if you could learn how to observe the itch without scratching, holding out for the moment when it inevitably disappears? To soothe the itch with the balm of inaction. This is what it means to be a bump on a log.
The phrase comes from Master Shantideva’s (700 A.D) Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. Before reciting his revered ancient text, he was known as Mr. Three Thoughts. To his fellow monks, it looked like he only did three things: eat, sleep, and poop. Meanwhile he was secretly writing what would instantly become one of the most lyrical and practical works in Buddhist canon.
Come for the ancient wisdom. Stay for the Little Women reference.
How did this practice go for you? Did you learn anything about patience or inaction from your inner guide? Would love to know.
