Change, no, refine your mind.
I imagine a team of marketing experts took a long time to come up with the thought provoking theme: Change Your Mind Day. Guess they axed the choices Modify, Jump Start , or Open. And definitely not Convert, which rubs everyone the wrong way for all the right reasons. Free, Unchain, or Unlock Your Inner Buddha Day might have been considered too. I changed my mind and decided to call this Refine Your Mind Day. And you decide the day since now works for everyone. I want to thank all the organizers for going along with this in advance. I don’t wait for committee meetings since I operate independently. Free to modify my expectations accordingly. Working on giving up attachments goes along with the job description and way of life available to all.
See, we came up with all these words for our condition. All these forms needing names, sometimes descriptive, a handy assortments of sounds to choose from. Some Buddhist terms need mentioning. Various schools or traditions exist: Mahayana, Vajrayana, Theravada. Meditation practices: samadhi-concentration, vipassana-insight, Zen. Rituals and styles abound: tantric, devotional, dry. Various cultures, languages, dress, customs to choose from: Thai, Tibetan, Japanese, western, ancient, modern, Pali, Sanskrit, English. You might find something ready-made that suits you, or you might want to piece together a custom ensemble. Lots of choices out there. Results may vary, often immediate, with long- term repercussions and benefits, very few negative side effects or doctor’s warnings. They all invite you to check out what they have to offer. Most encourage behavior modification, wanting refined clientele, some form of service to keep you interested, guidance, books, teachers, retreats, temples, pilgrimage to a shrine, occasion for observance of traditional events and so on. You don’t have to buy into the whole program. Use your best judgment and watch out for misleading information. I can tell you from practical experience that not all of it makes sense or comes directly from the Buddha’s mouth or traditions. Lots of contamination has occurred over the ancient path laid down. Tread carefully and you won’t have any problems.
I have some practical advise too. Pay attention. With so many choices and information you might feel overwhelmed. With too little you might not get the full benefits available. This way of life, not just a Buddhist domain, refines, develops, and defines the advancement of civilization. “Do good, avoid evil, refine the mind.” Step by step, just like the refining process described inside, you achieve clarity. Awaken. Peace.