Why Do We Need a Place to Pause?

Everyone who walks through these doors comes from a different walk of life.

One person may be carrying stress from work.

Another may be struggling with family.

Someone may be worried about money or their living situation.

Another person may feel that they do not have enough support.

Someone may be afraid of being alone.

And sometimes we simply reach a point where life becomes difficult and we are looking for a little peace.

We cannot assume that everyone is carrying the same thing.

But most of us are carrying something.

That is one reason I think having a place like this is important.

Not because we expect to solve every problem in one hour.

Sometimes we simply need somewhere to relax and breathe.

A place where we can gather a little strength and energy before going back out and continuing our journey through life.

What Does It Mean to Pause?

When I speak about pausing, I do not mean running away.

There is an important difference.

Pausing means taking some time to see and meet what is actually happening.

We stop long enough for the mind to become clearer.

Then, with greater clarity, we can look for a wise solution and decide how to continue.

Running away is different.

When we continually avoid something and never look for a remedy, the difficulty usually remains.

Sometimes avoiding it creates even deeper suffering.

So pausing is not leaving our life behind.

In a way, pausing helps us return to life more clearly.

You Can Pause Anywhere

Someone might say:

“Ajahn, that sounds good, but I don’t have time to pause. I have work. I have bills. I have children. I have family problems. Sitting quietly isn’t going to make those problems disappear.”

That is true.

Pausing does not magically make our responsibilities disappear.

But pausing is something we can practice anywhere and at any time.

This temple is simply providing a space where we can learn some techniques together.

Then you take those practices with you.

You may use them at work.

At home.

During a difficult conversation.

While sitting in your car before walking into the house.

Or even for only a few seconds before responding to somebody.

The temple is the place where we practice.

Life is where we use the practice.

The Few Seconds That Can Change What Happens Next

One of the simplest things we can learn is:

Pause. Become aware. Return to the present moment.

Sometimes we only need a few seconds.

I use this in everyday life myself.

There are times when something happens and the mind immediately creates a story about it.

Maybe someone says something.

Maybe someone does not respond the way we expected.

Maybe we see a situation and immediately believe we understand what it means.

Then the mind begins filling in the missing pieces.

“They must mean this.”

“They probably did that because of me.”

“This person must be thinking this.”

“This is probably what is going to happen.”

And before we know the truth, we are already reacting to something the mind created.

I have found that pausing and choosing to see the situation with wisdom has saved me from embarrassment, irritating emotions, and regret later.

Sometimes, when I finally understood the person’s situation or saw what really happened, I realized that the story my mind created was not true.

It was imagination.

Watching Without Reacting

So what do we do when these thoughts arise?

I do not need to fight them.

I simply observe them.

I become aware that the thought is there.

But I do not immediately react.

Then I watch.

I allow the situation to reveal itself.

And as the real situation becomes clearer in the present moment, I adjust to what is actually happening.

This is important.

We do not have to react to something that has not even been revealed yet.

The mind may predict.

The mind may imagine.

The mind may worry.

But a thought is not automatically the truth.

Sometimes wisdom is simply having enough patience to allow reality to show itself.

Then we respond to the real situation rather than the situation we created in our imagination.