“When your mind is always completely empty you will have achieved purity. But don’t think about it or you’ll lose it. If you fall into a state of nonpurity again, however, simply pay no attention to it and you will be free once more.”

-Zen teaching

One of the key beliefs behind my book, Meditative Questions, is that one’s thoughts are both the reason for one’s pain…but also the key to one’s liberation. So often, we do not even question our thoughts. We may even amplify our anxiety by worrying about things that may never happen.

The key is always to empty ourselves and pay no attention to these fleeting thoughts and worries. For they are illusions.

Photo source: Empty bowlEmptiness is what we use.