Mindfulness
We can never be at peace if our mind is racing ahead of us thinking about what we must do next or fretting over what has just happened. According to Thich Nhat Hanh (1976) attending to the present moment, being aware of every breath, every sensation, every thought, every feeling, is the essential discipline. But how are we to do this and do all the other work we have to do?
Some simple suggestions from Thich Nhat Hanh:
Washing the dishes
Anyone can wash the dishes in a hurry, try this for a change:
While washing the dishes one should only be washing the dishes, which means that while washing the dishes one should be completely aware of the fact that one is washing the dishes. At first glance this might seem a little silly: why put so much stress on a simple thing? But that's precisely the point. The fact that I am standing there and washing these bowls is a wondrous reality. I'm being completely myself, following my breath, conscious of my presence, and conscious of my thoughts and actions. There's no way I can be tossed around mindlessly like a bottle slapped here and there on the waves. (pp.3-4, 1976)
There are two ways to wash the dishes. The first way is to wash the dishes in order to have clean dishes and the second way is to wash the dishes in order to wash the dishes.(p.4)
If while we are washing dishes, we think only of the cup of tea that awaits us, thus hurrying to get the dishes out of the way as they were a nuisance, then we are not 'washing the dishes to wash to wash the dishes.' What's more we are not alive during the time we are washing the dishes....If we can't washes the dishes, chances are we won't be able to drink our tea either. (pp.4-5)
Driving the car
A simple way to stay mindful as you drive. Bring this meditation to mind before you set out:
Before starting the car,
I know where I am going.
The car and I are one.
If the car goes fast, I go fast. (1992, p.31)
Eating tangerines
Why do we eat? For energy and health? Consider the following story of eating tangerines.
One day, I offered a number of children a basket filled with tangerines. The basket was passed around, and each child took one tangerine and put it in his or her palm. We each looked at our tangerine, and the children were invited to meditate on its origins. They saw not only their tangerine, but also its mother, the tangerine tree. With some guidance, they began to visualize the blossoms in the sunshine and the rain. They they saw petals falling down and the tiny green fruit appear. After seeing this, each child was invited to peel the tangerine slowly, noticing the mist and the fragrance of the tangerine, and then bring it up to his or her mouth and have a mindful bite, in full awareness of the texture and taste of the fruit and the juice coming out. We ate slowly like that.
Each time you look at a tangerine, you can see deeply into it. You can see everything in the universe in one tangerine. When you peel it and smell it, it's wonderful. You can take your time eating a tangerine and be very happy. (1992, pp.21-22).
References:
Thich Nhat Hanh (1976). The Miracle of Mindfulness (trans: Moby Ho). Boston: Beacon Press.
Thich Nhat Hanh (1992). Peace is Every Step. Bantam Books.