The uncultivated mind is like a jar filled with muddy water. At first, the mud is swirling everywhere—thoughts, worries, and old habits clouding our vision. If we try to look inside, all we see is confusion. The only way to change this is not by shaking the jar more, but by gently adding clear water. In the mind, clear water is born from fresh, wholesome thoughts, from awareness, from stillness.

Daily meditation is the steady pouring of that clean water. At first, the difference may seem small, but day after day, drop by drop, the muddy water becomes clearer. The mind begins to settle, just as the mud sinks to the bottom when undisturbed. With time, patience, and gentle attention, the water becomes transparent, and the truth—once hidden—can be seen.

When the mind is cultivated in this way, it becomes a friend, a guide, and a mirror to reality.

Guided Meditation — The Jar of Muddy Water

Close your eyes and take a deep, slow breath in… and let it out gently.

Imagine a clear glass jar in front of you.
Inside, the water is cloudy and brown, filled with swirling mud.
This jar is like your uncultivated mind—full of thoughts, worries, and habits that blur your vision.

Now, picture yourself holding a jug of fresh, clear water.
With each slow, mindful breath, you pour a little of this clear water into the jar.
Breathe in… and as you breathe out, see the jar filling with freshness, purity, and clarity.

At first, the muddy water still swirls. That’s okay.
Day after day, breath after breath, the clear water replaces the muddy water.
The mud begins to settle. The swirling slows.
You can start to see through the water. Shapes become clear. Light begins to pass through.

Feel the same happening within your mind.
With every breath, every moment of awareness, you are pouring in clarity.
The noise fades. The heaviness sinks.
What remains is calm, openness, and truth.

Stay here for a few moments… breathing… watching the water clear…
and knowing that each meditation, no matter how small, is another drop of fresh water for your mind.

When you are ready, gently open your eyes, bringing this sense of clarity into the rest of your day.