How to bring monastic best practices into lay life
This is a really interesting topic, as it’s something I’ve been thinking about lately. As I’ve posted about a few times I have ADHD (lifelong but only diagnosed 2 years ago at age 35!), which means developing my mindfulness and concentration has been very slow and very difficult even though I’ve been a practicing Buddhist for 12 years. Getting access to medication 2 years ago has helped, but I’m finally starting to realise that I need to adapt the practice for the unique way my mind works - entering the path via a side gate rather than the main gate (which for me is covered with thick overgrown vines I have to hack through every day in order to gain access to it!)
As I’ve thought about this more deeply I’ve realised adding small rituals which come from monastic practice are helpful for me in terms of reminding me to practice and presenting opportunities to practice that lower the cognitive barrier that any ‘task’ presents for an ADHD person. What Jundo talks about re: making your whole life the practice, is exactly what I need to do, but in a very explicit, almost ritualised way in order to accommodate my need for order and structure. I’ve found that it’s only WITHIN a really clear structured environment that I can let down my guard enough to be able to develop a flexible and focused mind- just ‘winging it’ just leaves me lost and pulled around my the strong currents of desire in my mind, which, with ADHD, are simply stronger than most other people’s.
Saying all that, I’ve started incorporating gatha recitations very prominently in my practice. I’m memorising Thich Nhat Hanh’s lovely book of gathas (I have flashcards!) and I’ve programmed my Alexa smart speaker to recite some key ones during different points in my daily routine, and ringing mindfulness bells for me every day at 10am, 2pm, 6pm and 10pm.
Developing a very explicit mindful eating practice is also very important to me as it’s a guaranteed opportunity for focused practice that is built-in to my day. I really enjoyed the oryoki practice during the retreat, and developing a simplified form of that ritual for meal times is something I’m thinking about, along with accompanying gatha recitations/ the 5 contemplations.
Jundo’s gentle warning about not making it be about the forms of the practice rather than the practice itself is very pertinent, but I just wanted to share my perspective whereby the ‘outward forms’ of practice and ritual can be a vital cognitive support for neurodivergent folk like me to meaningfully engage with a life of true practice.
(Sorry I’ve written another book again!)
With metta,
Andrea
Satlah
This is a really interesting topic, as it’s something I’ve been thinking about lately. As I’ve posted about a few times I have ADHD (lifelong but only diagnosed 2 years ago at age 35!), which means developing my mindfulness and concentration has been very slow and very difficult even though I’ve been a practicing Buddhist for 12 years. Getting access to medication 2 years ago has helped, but I’m finally starting to realise that I need to adapt the practice for the unique way my mind works - entering the path via a side gate rather than the main gate (which for me is covered with thick overgrown vines I have to hack through every day in order to gain access to it!)
As I’ve thought about this more deeply I’ve realised adding small rituals which come from monastic practice are helpful for me in terms of reminding me to practice and presenting opportunities to practice that lower the cognitive barrier that any ‘task’ presents for an ADHD person. What Jundo talks about re: making your whole life the practice, is exactly what I need to do, but in a very explicit, almost ritualised way in order to accommodate my need for order and structure. I’ve found that it’s only WITHIN a really clear structured environment that I can let down my guard enough to be able to develop a flexible and focused mind- just ‘winging it’ just leaves me lost and pulled around my the strong currents of desire in my mind, which, with ADHD, are simply stronger than most other people’s.
Saying all that, I’ve started incorporating gatha recitations very prominently in my practice. I’m memorising Thich Nhat Hanh’s lovely book of gathas (I have flashcards!) and I’ve programmed my Alexa smart speaker to recite some key ones during different points in my daily routine, and ringing mindfulness bells for me every day at 10am, 2pm, 6pm and 10pm.
Developing a very explicit mindful eating practice is also very important to me as it’s a guaranteed opportunity for focused practice that is built-in to my day. I really enjoyed the oryoki practice during the retreat, and developing a simplified form of that ritual for meal times is something I’m thinking about, along with accompanying gatha recitations/ the 5 contemplations.
Jundo’s gentle warning about not making it be about the forms of the practice rather than the practice itself is very pertinent, but I just wanted to share my perspective whereby the ‘outward forms’ of practice and ritual can be a vital cognitive support for neurodivergent folk like me to meaningfully engage with a life of true practice.
(Sorry I’ve written another book again!)
With metta,
Andrea
Satlah
)
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