In the Zen tradition there is a very useful teaching called “don’t-know mind.” Lately I have been thinking about a related concept, which I call “don’t-want mind.”

Sometimes when I’m in a period of intensive meditation or reflection, little snippets of insight will come to me, and then some words will start to form in the mind around those insights — words that help to convey their essence, often condensed into a metaphor or a vivid image that feels poignant at the time.

This is a phrase I’ve used occasionally to describe the philosophy classes that I teach. It struck me recently that it’s also a pretty good indication of the type of reflection I try to do in my daily life.