Information overload - Mindfulness Essay.

Information is good and bad. Information is good, for the success, prosperity wealth, even tiny bit of happiness that we assume which is there. But is this real? Does Information govern everything that we do? At least I can give you one example where Information is harmful, and that is mindfulness.

Story of the Merchant

Pouring tea: https://unsplash.com/@oriento

Once upon a time a wealthy merchant, was looking for happiness. He could not find what he seeks even after being rich. For whatever reasons, the life seems to be in a continuous flow, and problems do not end, even if you become successful. So, he thought he should put to an end to this. He flew over the Himalayas to reach Tibet. The land of lamas. He took a risk leaving behind every success he achieved to gain wisdom on life. There he met one of the most renowned teachers. This time not on top of a mountain, but just in a well populated town.

He went there and explained his ambition to the teacher. Asked him to show him the path to freedom. To ultimate truth in life. While he was explaining, somebody brought a pot of tea. And while he was talking, teacher started to pour him some tea. While he was talking still, the teacher kept on pouring tea. Now the teacup was full up to the brim and suddenly it was overflowing. Yet the teacher did not stop pouring tea, and the merchant saw this and panicked. Stop! Pouring tea. It's overflowing.

The teacher stopped. And after a moment of well-deserved silence, he spoke. "To learn the truth about life you have to empty your cup first". And that was the first and the last advice he got.

Himalayas: https://unsplash.com/@mimansakn

Information overload problem

This is a great story to illustrate what information overload has done to us. Hardest to get rid of is the ones which are in our brains. We are glued to our ethnicity prejudices cultures and everything mental. Although we say we are not attached to physical objects we are in fact slaves to mental objects. Infact although it feels like emptying the cup is easy thing to do, it would be hardest and weirdest thing to do. We ourselves are defined by the information we possess about past. We can call them memories. But these same memories are hindrance when we consider understanding nature. Imagine what it means. No matter what, you think you cannot go beyond the set boundaries of your set of vocabulary and the number system. I'm not saying you cannot make a new word, or an equation or a novel programing language. I'm showing you that they are limited.

Although we are gifted by the nature to have a consciousness which can sustain itself, this same consciousness which keeps records is our problem. We are limited by our six senses. And to understand and break into the creator's realm we need a new approach. And that is the first lesson of anyone who wants to step into mindfulness. And If you are wise enough that is the only lesson that we need.

You can do this, by deliberately choosing to empty your cup. You do not have to walk in the park or go on a vacation. You do not have to watch TV or take photographs to make yourself happy. You do not have to drink tea. You do not have to have a prior knowledge to read something you do not understand. What is the point? If you are defined by the things that you see and feel, then no point carrying the filled cup of information with you. You can be just like a tree, now, in this moment, doing whatever you are doing. And tomorrow is never there.

How to catch a butterfly: https://unsplash.com/@jcotten

You can be sad when you are sad, you can smile when you are happy, You can be peaceful when internal structure is calm. But beyond that, there is no point thinking about what you have felt yesterday. There is no use thinking about retirement while you are at work. Even tomorrow is far away. Even lunch break is a stupid idea. What matters is what is here now. If we can frame and capture ourselves to this second which is called now and stay there as long as we prefer, then we might be able to understand the wordless meaning of life. To do that we must empty the cup as necessary as, tea will be kept pouring in each second you are awake.

Isn't it the most amazing thing in the world? The rapid movement of the matter across time at lightning speed giving an illusion of a persisting life? What do you make out of it?

Can you please empty your cup? And be mindful?