Maintaining a right mindset in an unmindful world

[PClark1]

Hi Paul,

It's nice to have you. Your thoughtful question and expression of gratitude is a welcome contribution to the community. It sends out good ripples. This influence, is an example of how I try to see things. Wherever you go, you become a part of where you are. You can bring good or bad with you. Bring good, you increase the good where you are. Bring bad and things only get worse. Keep up the good work!

Gassho,

Bill

Sat today

Bill,

Thank you for your kind words. This is exactly what I hope to live up to.

Gassho

Paul
Sat today

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[Rich]

Hi Paul,

I'm new, too, and I live in the country (though I once lived in Dallas), so read my thoughts with that in mind. I try to smile a lot--something small and subtle, something I'm just aware of, something like the Buddha's. I find it helps. It may be a "mask," but at this stage of practice, it's a mask I need. It points to what I'm seeking: inclusion of the "others"--especially the difficult ones--in "my" life. I'll do this until I have the understanding eye that sees "my" life as "our" life.

Gassho,

Michael

SatToday

I begin each day outside smiling at the heavens - sun, moon, stars and planets; and the Earth - air, water, plants and animals.

SAT today

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[Risho]

Does anyone have any tips for preserving a good mindset and mindfulness in a busy, self-centered community?

Welcome!

Apologies if this has already been stated; I'm just trying to make an effort to post since my life has been a little crazy. lol Not in a bad way, just a lot going on. Sitting and practicing a lot, but I don't always have as much time to post.

In any case, my tip would be the more you pursue what you think is a "good mindset" the more it may lead away from that. Just make sure you really understand what you mean by "good mindset". For example, if you think that it is being positive all the time, then that is just going to be a big pile of failure; things aren't static. I think practice has taught me to be with what is, to see what's happening but not always to be led around by the nose by it so to speak; I'm not saying you should be careless; rather, I would just say a "good mindset" to me would be to be able to accept and act on what's happening rather than to re-act to what's happening. It allows one to act with composure as opposed to reacting in habitual patterns and, even if you do react habitually which I often do, you can learn from it and try to do a little bit better the next time.

After all, that's what practice is all about, and I suck at it. hahahahah

Gassho,

Risho
-sattoday

[Jundo]

Hi Paul,

It's nice to have you. Your thoughtful question and expression of gratitude is a welcome contribution to the community. It sends out good ripples. This influence, is an example of how I try to see things. Wherever you go, you become a part of where you are. You can bring good or bad with you. Bring good, you increase the good where you are. Bring bad and things only get worse. Keep up the good work!

Gassho,

Bill

Sat today

Simple and lovely.

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Jakuden]

I've found this to be so true. Since I began honouring the precepts and practicing zazen, my behaviour around others is changing. I'm more patient, more humble, more compassionate, more grateful. Just these changes in my behaviour has caused "ripples" in my workplace, my family, my friends, maybe even broader... I'm convinced the most valuable thing I can do for others right now is zazen.

One more thing I've noticed is when we speak of "causing harm", we often think of big things, like violence or stealing. We can do all kinds of harm to ourselves and others, even where we don't intend to. Jundo sometimes talks about "living gently". Again, I think if we can observe in ourselves the harmful effects of words, thoughts and actions, we can work on cultivating compassion and equanimity. Conclusion - more zazen!

Gassho,
Enjaku
Sat

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

[Tom]

Welcome.

I think we all struggle with this. For me, the answer is summed up in the phrase that at Treeleaf "life is our temple."

Something clicked when I started to try to see every difficult situation or person as carrying some sort of message, something that needed to be learned, mostly about the precepts.

The precepts are the compass and roadmap. Or maybe Shikantaza is the roadmap and the precepts are the compass. Or vice versa. Ah, you know what I mean.

How do we not slander if someone is running a smear campaign or backstabbing us? Is internet porn 'misusing sexuality'? In a competitive job interview when you really want it, how do you avoid self-praise, perhaps at the expense of others? What about when you're tired, tired, tired, and someone asks something reasonable of you? (In my city, gridlocked traffic is a big one. A simple meet-up request from a friend can mean four hours in a car, often motionless, staring at tail lights.)

Gassho,

Sat Today.

Tom

[Gokai]

Hello, Paul

It's nice to have you here.
Thanks for all the contributions given with your answers and that allow us all to learn.

Gassho, Gokai
Sattoday