Direct Awareness and Interconnection
While reflecting on the nature of interconnection, I was reminded of a song by jazz singer and pianist Mose Allison: “Your Mind Is on Vacation and Your Mouth Is Working Overtime.” The tune delivers a sharp critique of someone speaking thoughtlessly, their words running wild without real awareness. But rather than seeing it as a commentary on someone else’s behavior, I found myself turning the song inward.
What if the “someone” in the song wasn’t another person, but rather my own conceptual mind—that restless inner voice constantly wrapped up in thoughts, opinions, and endless mental chatter? The real challenge isn’t just the presence of thoughts, but our attachment to them. We get caught in cycles of obsessive thinking, replaying the same worries and judgments, fueling emotions that pull us further from the present moment.
So what would be the opposite of this overactive, unchecked mind? A mind that is at ease, resting in natural awareness. A supple mind that is clear, open, and spacious, unburdened by the need to cling to every thought and word. The goal isn’t to stop thinking altogether, but to loosen our grip on thoughts, allowing them to come and go without attachment.
When Allison sings about the mind being “on vacation” while the mouth is “working overtime,” it serves as a reminder of how we often lose touch with the present moment. We get swept away by our inner monologue instead of being fully engaged with the world around us.
The Ever-Present Web of Interconnection
Whether we notice it or not, interconnection is always present. Every aspect of our lives is woven into a vast web of cause and effect, action and response. Each thought, each word, each choice we make sets something else in motion. Nothing exists in isolation. Everything is part of something greater.
When we quiet the mind and let go of attachment to our thoughts, we begin to see things as they truly are. And in that clarity, we experience our deep interconnection with everything and everyone. It’s not an intellectual concept. It’s a direct, felt reality.
Contemplative Practice
How do we cultivate awareness? How do we quiet the mind and step into direct connection with life? Here’s a simple practice to try, even if just for a few minutes to start.
- Find a quiet space. Step away from distractions, especially electronic devices.
- Sit comfortably. Keep a good posture, but stay relaxed and at ease. You could be on a cushion or a chair.
- Focus on the breath. Pay attention to each inhale and exhale, simply noticing the natural rhythm.
- Gently return when distracted. Each time you notice that your mind has drifted, bring your focus back to the breath, nonjudgmentally and as softly as a feather guiding a soap bubble through the air.
This practice allows us to observe our mental patterns without judgment. Over time, we begin to notice the ways our thoughts pull us away from the present moment, and we learn to return, again and again, to a place of clarity and interconnection.
Living with Awareness
With regular practice, we develop the ability to carry this awareness into daily life. Instead of getting lost in endless thoughts, we become more present with our experiences, our surroundings, and the way we interact with people. We feel the inescapable interconnection between ourselves and the world—not as a distant idea, but as a lived reality. And when we touch that reality, we open ourselves to a deeper sense of peace, presence, and belonging.
George Beckwith became a student of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in 2009 after many years in the Shambhala tradition. He is an architect, though no longer active; he currently serves on the Nalandabodhi Board of Directors; and he hosts a jazz radio show called Cliff Notes on a local radio station, Radio Free Rhinecliff.
