Our body and life is calling but
we often ignore them. We can ask ourselves what is hurting, where, and why? Attention
is like warm sun on flowers that open to blossom and bloom with all their
beauty and sweet fragrance. Our suffering becomes workable. It came for a
reason; why? Mindfulness turns garbage and manure (bullshit) into compost and
fertilizer. We are driven by materialism, consumerism, and fear. We at last come
home to our True Selves.
When others are angry and upset
we may not see their suffering. They too have pain that they can't handle.
Their pain overflows onto others. Perhaps the most important thing we can do is
just listen. Also reassure them they are being heard, hold their hand, and
listen closely. We can take the suffering of others, and our own, and hold it
gently and caringly like a tired, sick, or hurt child to express kindness, see
the roots of suffering, and help to relieve it.
With mindfulness we look,
listen, and speak differently. We are wise not to run or hide from our
suffering. Problems can feel enormous and we may magnify them. We multiply them
with our suffering, but storms pass and the sun shines again. We can be present
for all the good we have now. Our wonderful eyes, ears, nose, mouth, arms, and
legs. Love is here and now. There are countless conditions of happiness
available all the time, but we must tune into them, turn them up, and really
listen! Joy has an excitement and anticipation quality. Happiness is when
anticipation and excitement is satisfied. We need to plan fun, play, and
creativity for our inner children, teens, and adults.
The first practice is Letting Go and accepting reality. We are
bound to so many things, our beliefs most of all (our "cows").
Letting go brings happiness. The second
practice is inviting and nurturing positive seeds. To have gratitude. The
seeds come from our store consciousness. They are watered and fed through the
light of awareness. Even ones we consider negative are useful. For example:
anger, jealousy, and regret hold valuable information and energy.
We can count our blessings to relax our curses. This is appropriate attention. It's easy to be overwhelmed and full of suffering and negativity. We can find the light and love as well. The third practice is mindfulness. Mindful joy helps us stay in touch with the wonders of life in our bodies, minds, homes, communities, and world. Our eyes see a kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, and forms, our ears hear bird songs, rainfall, loving voices, and beautiful music. Our nose and mouth smell and taste the banquet of life, our hands and arms hold loved ones, and our feet and legs carry us wherever we wish to go. Our world is filled with beautiful mountains, and valleys, rivers, lakes, oceans, deserts, and forests awaiting our exploration and enjoyment.
Sitting meditation teaches us to
be still and know. Walking meditation is the first step on taking our
mindfulness off of the mat and into the world. We can have mindfulness brushing
our teeth, sweeping, getting dressed, or any of life's simple pleasures. It can
change everything as we become present for life and enjoy it moment-to-moment.
We can also create mindfulness verses, slogans, sayings, and mantras to repeat
throughout the day. Practice prepares us for life's little miseries as life is
good here and now. This prepares us for major miseries.
Life can be a celebration as we
recognize the conditions of happiness are present in and around us all the
time. We have more than enough to be happy about and celebrate. Happiness is a
kind of soup, as it only takes a few simple ingredients. The fourth practice is
concentration. Our past and future are always there ready to drag us off unless
we pause.
The fifth practice is insight as
we come back to the moment, our body, and feelings to find the clarity that
liberates us from afflictions. We can use real suffering from the past or
remember realize there are no wars, plagues, or disasters going on outside our
doors. Neither our happiness or suffering are ours alone, we share it with the
whole world.
Our time and attention is often
the most precious thing we can give. We can be a good example and force for
positive change by creating our own safe harbor and working out from there to
show there is another way. When people come together in mindfulness the collective
positive action can be very powerful. We can practice right action in
everything we do such as shopping, consuming, entertainment and so on.
Mara is the personification of
distraction, attachment, and despair. When she tried to tempt Buddha he told
her "I see this earth is a lovely and beautiful place. The wonders make me
so happy I don't need to have possessions or wealth". He and his followers
then walked the earth practicing compassion and mindfulness to help people
suffer less. We all can do the same to increase connection and happiness and lessen
suffering.