Managing Distractions to Focus Effectively
To focus effectively, it’s essential to manage distractions. When we struggle to do so, negative thoughts can make our minds anxious, which hinders focus. These anxious thoughts can dominate our minds, leading to intolerance toward events and uncertainty about what’s happening, often driving us to fear the worst outcomes as they unfold.
The faculty of the Mind in Sustaining Focus
Understanding that the mind is one of the root causes of our distractions. The more we feed it with overthinking, the more it loses focus, making every moment feel effortful. Each thought projected in the mind becomes a reality, even if inaccurate, making focusing the mind difficult. Again, obsessive thinking reduces the strength of the mind, resulting in a scattered focus. The very cause of our distractions only worsens the problem, turning actions into tiring efforts.
Finding Effortlessness in the Mind
How can we bring effortlessness to the mind? It’s vital to understand why the mind can become a reason. We humans possess a remarkable mind, a gift we can utilise effectively. Just as we bathe and keep our bodies clean, we ensure our minds are clean of unnecessary thoughts, feelings, attitudes, desires, opinions, and judgments. The key lies in understanding our thoughts and emotions and directing our thinking to enhance our focus and mindset.
Spectator vs. Witness: A Shift in Perspective
We must guide and organise our minds based on how we perceive our thoughts, emotions, opinions, and judgments, whether as ‘spectators’ or ‘witnesses.’ A spectator observes only what they want to see with some expectations, while a witness observes what is happening without anticipation or desire. For example, watching a movie is a spectator experience; you enjoy it for the pleasure it provides. That reflects a spectator’s outlook. In contrast, when you are commuting and notice a violinist performing at a station, you appreciate her artistry without intending to participate. That represents a witness’s outlook. This shift in viewpoint gives us a greater sense of control over our thoughts and emotions.
The Mahabharata: Lessons on Focus and Distraction
In the great epic The Mahabharata, the Guru Dronacharya demonstrates a lesson. He tests his disciples, including the Kauravas and Pandavas, to determine who will become a great archer. Starting with Yudhishthira, Dronacharya asks, “What do you see on that tree?”
Yudhishthira replies, “I can see the tree, its branches, a bird’s nest, and an ant’s dune. I must take care of all these distractions to hit my target.”
Dronacharya responds, “You are aware of too many details surrounding the target, which means you cannot become a great archer.”
Next, Dronacharya calls Duryodhana. When asked what he sees, Duryodhana says, “I see the wooden bird and the branch it sits on. Can I hit the bird?”
Dronacharya instructs him, “You must hit the wooden bird so that your arrow passes through its eye without making it fall.”
Seeing Duryodhana confused, Dronacharya sent him back. Finally, Arjuna is called. Dronacharya asks him what he sees. Arjuna replies, “I can only see the eye of the bird.”
Dronacharya instructs him to take his shot, and when Arjuna releases the arrow, it passes through the bird’s eye without dislodging the wooden bird from the branch.
Clarity of Focus: The True Source of Effortless Action
While various thoughts and opinions clouded Yudhishthira and Duryodhana, causing them to lose focus on their goal, Arjuna remained intensely focused. His focus allowed him to act wholeheartedly. He observed as a witness without the chaos of thoughts clouding his judgment. In this state, ‘witness’ means looking with an open heart, free from the influence of the mind. The mind does not interfere, causing projections or false interpretations. Here, the heart takes precedence over the mind, becoming the trustworthy source of action—effortless actions. Arjuna was not seeing with his mind but with his heart; his heart provided the effortless action. Thus, the seer, the one who sees, is the heart. Understanding the heart’s role in maintaining focus can help us cultivate the right emotional state for better concentration.
Achieving Pure Focus Through the Witnessing Mind
To achieve clarity and peace of mind, we must learn to observe our thoughts and emotions without letting them influence or provoke us. This practice of witnessing allows our minds to organise effortlessly. Imagine these thoughts and feelings flowing like waves, guiding us to focus steadily. When we examine our inner experiences, we should approach it from the heart. When the witness and the heart become one, it empowers us to develop pure focus, liberating us from distractions.