The Candy for the False Mind

When you sit to meditate, the first enemy is not the world—it’s your own body and mind. The itch to move, the twitch in the leg, the voice saying “just a little break, please”—that’s the false mind bargaining for relief.

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Here’s the truth: you don’t have to fight it like a tyrant from day one. You can train it, like a restless beast, by giving it a controlled allowance. Think of it as giving a child a candy—not because you are weak, but because you are wise enough to keep it in the game.

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In my early long sits, I allowed one movement of the legs in the last 15 minutes of a two-hour session. That was the candy. The body thought: “Okay, I’ll endure, because relief is coming.” But I knew the truth: I was the one granting the candy. I was in command.

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This allowance is a tool, not a surrender. By giving your mind and body a fraction of what they crave, you keep them from rebelling entirely. You show them: “You may receive a portion, but only because I permit it. You are not the king here.”

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Over time, even the candy loses its sweetness. The body learns it doesn’t need to complain. The mind realizes it is not sovereign, but council—allowed to speak only when chosen.

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And then the candy disappears. The throne remains.