Mindful Moment 20240112
At first, the mountains are mountains and streams are streams. Then, the mountains are not mountains and streams are not streams. But in the end, mountains are mountains again and streams are streams again.
― Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam Trungpa’s profound and enigmatic quote captures the essence of perspective and understanding in our journey of personal growth and enlightenment. It metaphorically illustrates the stages of learning and understanding that we go through in life. In the beginning, “mountains are mountains and streams are streams,” symbolizing a phase of simplicity and straightforwardness in our understanding of the world. At this stage, our perception of reality is uncomplex and based on surface appearances—things are taken at face value.
As we progress, “the mountains are not mountains and streams are not streams,” represents a period of questioning, exploring, and deeper understanding. In this phase, our initial beliefs and perceptions are challenged. We begin to see life’s deeper meanings, complexities, and nuances. What we thought we understood becomes uncertain, and we delve into a deeper exploration of truth and knowledge.
Finally, “mountains are mountains again and streams are streams again,” signifies a return to simplicity but with a newfound depth of understanding. Having gone through the journey of questioning and exploration, we come back to a place where the mountains and streams are seen as they are, but now our understanding of them is enriched with deeper insight and wisdom. It’s a higher level of awareness where simplicity and complexity coexist harmoniously.
This quote reflects the cyclical nature of learning and understanding. It’s a reminder that true knowledge comes from experiencing all these phases: acknowledging what we see, questioning it, and then understanding it with a new perspective. This process is essential for personal growth, self-awareness, and enlightenment.
To apply this philosophy in our lives, we can embrace each stage of understanding with openness and curiosity. Initially, we appreciate the simplicity of experiences and knowledge. We should not be afraid to question and delve deeper as we progress. And finally, we should strive to reach a level of understanding that combines simplicity with depth, seeing the world with clarity and wisdom.
These words are a profound reminder of the evolving nature of our understanding and perception. It encourages us to embrace the learning journey, from seeing things as they are, questioning them and then understanding them on a deeper level. This journey enriches our perspective, making our view of the world more comprehensive and profound.
Chögyam Trungpa was a Tibetan Buddhist meditation master and holder of both the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism.
