The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology

by Jack Kornfield

most of the time we are “lost in thought.” Fortunately, with training, we can become mindful of the patterns of thought that condition our perception. We can cut through the sticky patterns of fear or competition, jealousy, judgment, or ambition. To start, it helps to acknowledge the most repetitious thoughts, the “top ten tunes,” by naming them. They might be repeated thoughts about money, or conflict, or anxious planning. The judging mind is another common tune, representing all the critical, disappointed voices from our childhood. If we fight it—“I shouldn’t be judging. I’m too harsh”—we only add more judging. When the judging mind appears, we can simply acknowledge it with an inward bow and say, “Ah, yes, the judging mind.” As soon as we do, the judging thought loses its power over us. We can even say, “Thank you for your opinion.”