Quiet Mind, Clear Heart (2)
Edited version
I believe I mentioned that I am collecting the Creative Lifestyle articles into a book manuscript. Currently it is about 200 pages worth of book. So I am starting to try out editing the early articles to be more book-like instead of blogpost-like. On these edited versions I will link to the original post so let me know what you think comparing one to the the other.
Quiet Mind, Clear Heart
The phrase "quiet mind, clear heart" encapsulates a profound life goal. If you adopt this as an overarching aim, you can dedicate most hours of each day to working toward it. For me, as I grow older and my rhythm slows down (or perhaps everything else speeds up), I’ve found this pursuit more accessible. Yet, it’s not something that comes naturally—it’s a discipline that requires continuous, conscious effort.
Consider for a moment how transformative it would be to cultivate both a quiet mind and a clear heart. It sounds simple, but few of us consciously work on this strategy. Instead, many of us are constantly bombarded by internal self-talk and external distractions, leading to noisy minds and hearts weighed down by turbulent emotions. As a result, we miss out on the richness of the present moment, failing to connect with our deeper selves and the world around us.
The Sufi mystic Hazrat Inayat Khan wisely said, “The mind is the surface of the heart, and the heart is the depth of the mind.” This reveals the dynamic relationship between mind and heart, where one reflects and influences the other. The mind operates at the surface level of consciousness, like the shallow end of a pond, while the heart functions in the depths, where intuition and knowingness reside.
The Mind as a Surface
Think of your mind as the surface of a pond. When the water is choppy, it obscures your view beneath it. Imagine this pond is full of fish, representing deeper thoughts and intuitions. If the surface is disturbed, you won’t see these fish unless they leap into the air. But when the water’s surface is still, you can observe everything beneath the surface with clarity.
Our constant internal chatter, distractions, and mental preoccupations are like those ripples that keep the surface choppy. While this mental noise might seem compelling, it keeps us from accessing deeper insights. To connect with the depths of our inner knowing, we must calm the waters of the mind—make it tranquil, placid, and clear.
Quieting the Mind
How do we achieve this state of quiet? Meditation is one well-known method. Spending time in meditation daily helps cultivate inner peace and mental stillness over time. However, quieting the mind can extend beyond formal meditation and become a continuous practice throughout the day. The key is to be present with whatever you are doing—whether it’s eating, walking, working, or resting.
This means silencing the mental noise: stop rehearsing conversations, rehashing past events, or worrying about future possibilities. Focus on the task at hand, fully engage with the present moment. It’s a simple idea, but difficult in practice, requiring years of dedication.
As Thich Nhat Hanh, the Zen master, once said, “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” Attentiveness to the present allows the mind to still itself. By doing so, the noise slowly dissolves, and we begin to experience life more fully.
Our minds often behave like an overenthusiastic puppy—constantly fetching thoughts to chase. The mind thinks it’s helping, but what it often brings is unnecessary clutter. Gently acknowledge this, and train the mind to rest. Say, “Thank you, but not right now.” Over time, the mind will learn to quiet itself, and you’ll develop greater control over where your thoughts go.
The Heart: Intuition and Emotion
While the mind functions at the surface, the heart reaches deeper into the core of our being. It expresses itself in two main ways: intuition and emotion.
I see intuition as a light that emanates from the heart—a form of knowing that transcends the intellect. The heart opens out into infinity, connecting with omniscience, and this deep knowing is felt as intuition. Unlike the mind, which processes knowledge, the heart operates in the realm of knowingness—a subtle but profound difference. As Albert Einstein famously put it, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant.”
Emotions, on the other hand, are like clouds that can obscure this inner light. When we are caught up in emotional storms, it’s difficult to access the clarity of intuition. However, as we quiet the mind and clear emotional baggage, the heart's light shines through, and we begin to experience the world with deeper awareness.
Clearing the Heart
Clearing the heart requires as much dedication as quieting the mind. Just as we practice silencing mental noise, we must also learn to let go of emotional drama. Much of the emotional turmoil we experience comes from our tendency to over-identify with our emotions, believing that they define us or that we need to hold onto them. But emotions, like thoughts, are transient—they come and go like passing clouds.
As the philosopher Krishnamurti once said, “To observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.” This suggests a way to approach our emotions: without judgment, without getting caught up in them. By observing emotions as passing sensations rather than attaching ourselves to them, we allow them to flow through us, rather than control us.
To achieve a clear heart, we must cultivate equanimity—balance and stability in the face of all experiences. This doesn’t mean suppressing emotions but instead allowing them to come and go without becoming attached or overwhelmed by them. The Buddhist principle of non-attachment teaches us to neither grasp nor reject emotional states, but to let them move through us naturally. As we practice this, emotional clouds dissipate, revealing the heart’s intuitive light.
The Power of Letting Go
A quiet mind and a clear heart require continuous letting go—not holding onto things that can’t be held. You might think that such detachment would make you indifferent or dull, but the opposite is true. By letting go, you become more present, more engaged, more alive. As you quiet your mind and clear your heart, you will find yourself becoming brighter, more intuitive, and more attuned to the subtle layers of life.
As Lao Tzu said, “By letting go, all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go.” In releasing the need to control, you tap into a deeper wisdom that guides you effortlessly. The world around us is a living thing and will take care of itself if you let things play out without trying to intervene. Watch, observe, be aware.
This process of letting go—of noise, distractions, and emotional baggage—is what allows the quiet mind and clear heart to emerge. When both are present, you find yourself more peaceful, more self-possessed, and more connected to and part of the flow of life itself.
Here is the first time I am using the poll option…
Your quotes are all from among the people whom I’ve considered my go-to for wisdom. Thanks.
Cecil, this is a wonderful article full of wisdom and insight. I think you applied it all to the edited version which is why I voted for that one!!