Today's Word

When We Look for the Troubled Mind, There Is No Fixed Thing to Grasp

2026 . 02 . 22

When Huike said his mind was not at peace, Bodhidharma told him to bring that mind. The story says that when Huike looked for it and could not obtain the mind, Bodhidharma said, "I have already pacified your mind."

Suffering is certainly felt. Yet when we look precisely for that troubled mind, it cannot be grasped as one fixed thing. Many thoughts, emotions, memories, and reactions gather together and only appear as suffering.

This does not mean we should deny that suffering exists. Rather, Hyedal sunim is telling us not to inflate it into "something that completely torments me," but to look calmly and see its lack of fixed substance and the way it works.

Today, when a troubled mind arises, do not hold it and make it larger. Look for it quietly, shine awareness on it, and let the mind settle into ease.

When we look deeply into the troubled mind, there is no fixed substance to hold on to.

Suffering is certainly felt. Yet when we look precisely for that troubled mind, it cannot be grasped as one fixed thing. Many thoughts, emotions, memories, and reactions gather together and only appear as suffering. We are not denying suffering; we are calmly seeing its lack of fixed substance and how it works.

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When We Look for the Troubled Mind, There Is No Fixed Thing to Grasp
When We Look for the Troubled Mind, There Is No Fixed Thing to Grasp cartoon
The protagonist holds a dark cloud of suffering.
Hyedal sunim says, "Place that mind in your hand."
When they look closely, the cloud thins out.
They do not deny suffering, but quietly shine light on it.
Only a clear breeze and a peaceful smile remain.
Look deeply into the troubled mind; there is no fixed thing to grasp.