Expert: Stuart Resnick - 5/3/2007

Question
Hi Mr. Stuart!

I've got two questions:
1. I've noticed that Buddhists are mostly bald, at least the ones that I saw. Why is that so? I guess they do it so as not to pay attention to their outward appearance, but does it mean they don't care how they look like?

2. How to achieve a calm mind? Sometimes I think that in order to be calm you have to become indifferent to what is happening to you, not to worry about anything that befalls you, so in a way be indifferent. So what's the secret, according to you, to remain calm all the time, if it's ever possible?

thank you


Answer
In many Eastern traditions, monks shave their heads. This only applies to monks, or to people living as monks. It may help someone devote more time and energy to inner work, since they don't have to wash and dry and comb their hair, look into mirrors to see how they look, etc.

As for remaining calm all the time, "all the time" doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is this moment. What are you doing right now? By being attentive to this very moment, you're not regretting the past or worrying about the future.

Living moment-to-moment, it's OK to be happy sometimes and sad sometimes. In happy situations, just be happy; in sad situations, just be sad. Don't hold anything. Let everything appear or disappear like clouds in the sky.

In a particularly agitating situation, if you need a special practice to calm the mind, you can try repeating a mantra, or watching your breath, or keeping the great question "What am I?"