Philosophy of Mind

“Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. The harvest will bring either flower or weeds.” –               William Wordsworth   

Once upon a time, there was a farmer who was troubled by many difficulties in his life. Despite his hard work, he was constantly unhappy, often angry, and found himself in frequent conflict with his family.

His efforts did not bring him the prosperity he hoped for, leaving him feeling poor and discontented. In search of a solution, the farmer decided to visit a wise philosopher known for his guidance. When the philosopher saw him, he gently asked, “Why do you look so sad? What is troubling you?”

The farmer replied, “I am not happy with my life. I get angry over the smallest things, I fight with my family, and no matter how hard I work on my farm, I remain poor. I came here seeking your guidance.”

The philosopher listened patiently and then said, “I will help you, but first, you must answer a few of my questions.”   The farmer agreed, eager for a solution. “Ask me anything,” he said. The philosopher asked, “What do you grow on your farm?”

“I grow wheat, rice, and sometimes mangoes,” the farmer replied. The philosopher nodded and asked another question, “When you plant a mango seed, do you get oranges in return?” The farmer looked puzzled. “What are you saying? Of course not! If I plant mango seeds, I will get mangoes, not oranges. It’s a natural rule that whatever seeds we sow, we get the same kind of fruits.”

The philosopher then asked his final question: “When you farm, weeds also grow. What do you do with them?” The farmer answered confidently, “I uproot them. Weeds can spoil my crop, so I remove them and plant my preferred seeds in their place.” The philosopher smiled and said, “Now you can leave.” Surprised, the farmer asked, “But what about my problems? You said you would solve them.”       

The philosopher smiled again and replied, “You already have the solutions within you. What more can I give you?” Confused, the farmer said, “I don’t understand. That’s why I came to you.”

The philosopher explained, “Just as you decide what seeds to sow in the ground, you must now consider your mind as the ground and your thoughts as seeds. Until now, you have been sowing seeds of anger, jealousy, and poverty, which is why you are unhappy. Now, begin sowing seeds of success, love, and goodness.”

He continued, “Just as mango seeds cannot produce oranges, good thoughts always lead to happiness, while bad thoughts bring sorrow. This is also a law of nature. And just as you remove unwanted weeds from your field, you must remove negative thoughts from your mind and replace them with positive ones. For example, when you feel anger, replace it with thoughts of happiness.”

The philosopher concluded, “Meditate on good thoughts every day, and your mind will bless you with all kinds of happiness and prosperity throughout your life.”

This story encapsulates the philosophy of our mind.