Here’s the foundation of all soul ninja wisdom: begin with a stable mind. A stable mind is what allows us to choose wisely, not reactively. It’s what gives us the discernment we need to do what is most needed.
You can obviously see why a stable mind would be important for a ninja; it’s what allowed them to be so nimble and calm from moment to moment, no matter what was happening around them… which is why every single ninja book I’ve read says that a stable mind is the absolute number one most important part of ninja training. Nothing else matters if you don’t have a stable mind.
The Bansenshukai* is one of the most famous ninja manuals, and the first two volumes talk *only* about cultivating the “correct mind.” Here’s what the Bansenshukai says:
The truth here is that you have an enemy and an ally nowhere else but in your own mind. Penetrate this principle thoroughly, so you will always be true to yourself…
It is your indecisive mind, which comes from thinking and reasoning, that gives you doubt. By throwing this away, you will become your true self, so that you can see reality very clearly and good ideas will come according to the occasion.
Your own mind can be your enemy. It can tell you you aren’t worthy, you can’t do this, you’re not strong enough/smart enough/good enough. It will tell you your mistakes are permanent and your future is already a lock. It will tell you you need a whole lot of things you don’t need. Those things are all distractions, keeping you from your good work. Your mind can be your enemy just by keeping you distracted, numb, preoccupied. Just by keeping you in a shallow state, where things are easy.
When your mind is your enemy it’s cloudy and indecisive. The Bansenshukai compares the cloudy mind to a lake with mud in it. It can’t reflect anything clearly, or perceive anything clearly, because its true purity and stillness has been covered up. This is such an important point: the natural, original quality of the mind is pure and still. It is good, and wise. But it gets clouded by all the noise and distraction. And it’s up to us to return our minds to its more natural state.
More recently, people have compared our busy minds to glitter bounce balls, which, when agitated, have glitter floating all around inside. When we get still, the glitter settles back down at the bottom, and you realize the ball is remarkably clear.
Your mind in a state of clarity is your biggest and strongest ally. It mirrors back to you what you need to see. It provides you with proper perspective. A clear and calm mind is a gift, because it offers you insight and wisdom that was awaiting discovery all this time.
Think of a time when you’ve overreacted to something. If you took some space to look back on your reaction afterward, you probably realized that you jumped to conclusions, or let your emotions run rampant over your actions, or both. Imagine how you would have responded differently if in that moment you had been working with a stable mind. If you had taken a moment to let the mud or glitter settle.
And soul ninja, you know I’m going to say this next: this stable mind will not happen by accident. It is not something you arrive at magically in your twilight years. Like anything else, it is something we have to cultivate and practice.
The way the ninja practiced cultivating a stable mind was through meditation. Meditation has always been a huge part of the ancient martial arts. In fact, legend says the martial arts were actually created as a way to improve meditation for monks. By moving your body, you clear your mind of superfluous thoughts. And when you sit back down to your meditation cushion after this practice, your mind is clearer, and more alert.
I know we are all such busy people. Who has time to sit around in silence? But here’s what’s also true: if it’s important to you to be a person of peace, of calm, of wisdom, then practicing meditation is a worthwhile use of your precious time. No other practice will train your mind as effectively as the stillness of meditation.
Your mind can be your enemy, or your most powerful ally. When your mind is your ally, your true self will be more available to you, even when things around you are cloudy. Remember, a stable mind is the absolute most important part of training. Nothing else matters without it.
Here’s my challenge: this week, find three times to meditate. It can be for five minutes or thirty minutes. (If you’re new to meditation, I think 10 minutes is a good place to start and 20 minutes is a good goal to set for the future.) It can be at any time of the day. You don’t need anything fancy to practice. It takes only 3 things:
- Find a place you can sit comfortably. This can be on the floor on a cushion or in a chair. Make sure you’re holding your posture rather than making a chair/sofa do all the work. Straight posture is a declaration of your dignity.
- Set a timer. I use Insight timer, which has wonderful options for starting and ending bells and sounds. But you can just use the timer on your smart phone. Easy.
- For the duration of your meditation, focus on your breath. When you find that beautiful mind wandering, just gently bring it back to your breath. Keep breathing. The point isn’t to be without thought but to get even just a tiny bit less attached to them. Just let them come and go. Stay present, stay calm. Let the mud and the glitter settle a little. That’s it.
Two more tips: during meditation, let your tongue rest gently on the roof of your mouth. It keeps your mouth from getting dry as you breathe in and out. And keep your eyes open. Some traditions say to close your eyes, but I was taught through Tibetan tradition to keep the eyes open, because you’re practicing a stable mind for the real world. It only makes sense to practice without fully shutting it out.
If you take up the meditation challenge this week, leave a comment and let me know how it goes!
*Unless you’re an absolute ninja nerd, no need to read the ancient manuals. They’re very confusing and intentionally incomplete, as ninja training was an apprenticeship steeped in oral tradition and in-person training. If you’re interested in reading something, contact me and I’ll help you find something suitable for what you’re looking for.
