The mind that is always competing becomes diseased

What is a mind that is always competitive and is always thinking in relation to the other? Such a mind is an afraid mind. Such a mind does not look at itself because it is so busy looking at the other - the other’s life, and all their activities. All its thoughts are determined by what is happening on the outside. So, if someone else is running at a particular speed, this mind might say that I have to run harder. If that fellow starts swimming, then this might say that I have to swim harder.

This mind has nothing of its own. Somebody else dictates what it does. And it is always afraid. It is always afraid because its sense of accomplishment comes only in relation to others.

If you are not available to what is happening right now, if you are not available to what is happening in this moment, and your mind is thinking of future, then your life will be boring, dull. The real moment is right now. But if your mind keeps thinking of the future, it will miss life now. Then life will be boring for you. When life becomes boring, you start finding it valueless. Then studying becomes unimportant, results become important. Then studying a particular course becomes unimportant, getting a job becomes important. The result is that we live very superficial lives.