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In the second part of this chapter, Toni continues to outline practices for being in the present moment, what we in Zen might call the eternal now.
The three-breath practice sounds to me a lot like Jundo’s insta-zazen, taking a brief pause in our activity just to have some relief from whatever is going on in our body and mind. Like insta-zazen, it is something that can be done almost anywhere at any time, especially when we don’t have time to actually get to the cushion.
I am sure that most of you have tried this, or something similar but whether you have or not, right now take three conscious breaths...
ONE
TWO
THREE
How did that feel? For me, I am always surprised at how much of an effect such a short and simple practice can have, and how I can suddenly feel much less hemmed in and have more mental space.
On one retreat I attended, there was a bell in the kitchen area and whenever any member of the cooking team (which comprised permanent members as well as volunteers to do the food prep) felt overwhelmed, they would ring the bell. At this point, everyone would put down whatever they were doing and take three breaths. The change in atmosphere was palpable.
Toni goes on to describe the ‘drop-it’ practice for disengaging with negative thoughts by bringing our attention to present sensory input. Again, this is much like insta-zazen but with a deliberate purpose. She gives the quote from Thich Nhat Hanh: “If we practice mindfulness, we always have a place to go when we’re afraid.”
I had my second vaccination on Saturday, and although it was brief and relatively painless, I focussed on my breath when it was happening, and I have used that in many medical procedures that induced anxiety.
Please do try both of these techniques and report back, or report on instances where you have done something similar in response to you illness.
For carers, is this something you have tried to teach to the person you care for? I remember teaching my youngest daughter to say mantras when she was at the dentist, something she has always hated. Do you sometimes have to do this practice yourself because of what is going on with the person you care for or the interaction between you?
Although we can really never leave the present moment, we can definitely lose sight of it and instead become bound up with our thoughts and ideas. When this happens, what techniques do you find the most helpful to come back to what is happening right here, right now, rather than in our imagination?
From next week, I am pleased to announce that Meian has offered to step in to co-lead this group and will present the next chapter of material. We hope that having two different people to present content, as was originally the case, will be helpful, as Meian’s experience of illness is different to my own.
Wishing you all a good week!
Gassho
Kokuu
In the second part of this chapter, Toni continues to outline practices for being in the present moment, what we in Zen might call the eternal now.
The three-breath practice sounds to me a lot like Jundo’s insta-zazen, taking a brief pause in our activity just to have some relief from whatever is going on in our body and mind. Like insta-zazen, it is something that can be done almost anywhere at any time, especially when we don’t have time to actually get to the cushion.
I am sure that most of you have tried this, or something similar but whether you have or not, right now take three conscious breaths...
ONE
TWO
THREE
How did that feel? For me, I am always surprised at how much of an effect such a short and simple practice can have, and how I can suddenly feel much less hemmed in and have more mental space.
On one retreat I attended, there was a bell in the kitchen area and whenever any member of the cooking team (which comprised permanent members as well as volunteers to do the food prep) felt overwhelmed, they would ring the bell. At this point, everyone would put down whatever they were doing and take three breaths. The change in atmosphere was palpable.
Toni goes on to describe the ‘drop-it’ practice for disengaging with negative thoughts by bringing our attention to present sensory input. Again, this is much like insta-zazen but with a deliberate purpose. She gives the quote from Thich Nhat Hanh: “If we practice mindfulness, we always have a place to go when we’re afraid.”
I had my second vaccination on Saturday, and although it was brief and relatively painless, I focussed on my breath when it was happening, and I have used that in many medical procedures that induced anxiety.
Please do try both of these techniques and report back, or report on instances where you have done something similar in response to you illness.
For carers, is this something you have tried to teach to the person you care for? I remember teaching my youngest daughter to say mantras when she was at the dentist, something she has always hated. Do you sometimes have to do this practice yourself because of what is going on with the person you care for or the interaction between you?
Although we can really never leave the present moment, we can definitely lose sight of it and instead become bound up with our thoughts and ideas. When this happens, what techniques do you find the most helpful to come back to what is happening right here, right now, rather than in our imagination?
From next week, I am pleased to announce that Meian has offered to step in to co-lead this group and will present the next chapter of material. We hope that having two different people to present content, as was originally the case, will be helpful, as Meian’s experience of illness is different to my own.
Wishing you all a good week!
Gassho
Kokuu
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