On Practice
I will practice coming back to the present moment...not letting regrets and sorrow drag me back into the past or letting anxieties, fears, or cravings pull me out.
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Look folks, I don’t know anything. I’m just a dude trying to figure out what it means to practice being present. Not all the time. A lot of the time I’m not thinking about it and just cruising through life and then realize it’s late January 2022–how does this happen?
You could say, “you’re not paying attention, Jeff,” and that would be partially correct but I think it’s deeper than that that I run around too much and worry about possible futures to the point that I’m paralysed in the moment to do and live my best life.
See, I’ve studied and so I understand music practice, writing practice, and practicing photography—but these are physical acts and I can intellectually and intuitively evaluate my progress compared to examples of others who have figured out how to practice and share like Shantell Martin talks about how as artists we “make and share so we can make and share.”
But I’m a lot less certain about how to practice “being present” and “being conscious.” If I’m conscious that I’m practicing being conscious does that count? Do I simply repeat “I’m in this moment” for five minutes to help me focus and be in the moment. I think it’s a start for sure. I love the meditations that Deepak Chopra and Oprah created to help beginners like me.
Then there is the Buddhist monk and teacher Thich Nhat Hanh who died earlier this week. He really is considered to be a great link between Buddhism and the West. When I learned that he died I thought of the many things he said and wrote that have helped me in my life to work toward understanding how to practice being present and conscious. Here are some of those:
People sacrifice the present for the future. But life is available only in the present. That is why we should walk in such a way that every step can bring us to the here and the now.
We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. And we'll also have a lot more joy in living.
We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.
With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present in order to touch the wonders of life that are available in that moment.
You carry Mother Earth within you. She is not outside of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment. In that insight of inter-being, it is possible to have real communication with the Earth, which is the highest form of prayer.
Breathing in, I am aware of my heart. Breathing out, I smile to my heart and know that my heart still functions normally. I feel grateful for my heart.
Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.
Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.
These things too inspired me recently:
Path 5 (delta). This song is from Max Richter’s album “from Sleep” sung by soprano Grace Davidson. This may be the most beautiful voice recording ever. The entire album is fantastic.
The philosophy of Ikigai. “Ikigai” is the Japanese concept combining the terms “alive” or “life” and “benefit” or “worth.” In other words, what gives your life meaning or purpose?
Teonanácatl. This story by Alejandro Zambra from the Paris Review is a great example of why many recommend taking psychoactive substances to relieve pain under supervision.