Thursday, December 30, 2010

In This Moment

I just finished reading Ayya Khema's book, 'Be an Insland'. It took me a long while, as I took it in only a few pages at a time, usually before going to sleep. As with other great teachings, Ayya Khema's wisdom needs to be contemplated, slowly, in bit size.

I was struck by the fact that she ended on this note:
Being mindfully aware in and out of meditation is the practice that brings results. It means doing one thing at a time, attentive to mind and body. When listening to Dhamma, just listen. When sitting in meditation, just attend to the meditation subject. When planting a tree, just plant. No frills, no judgments. This habituates the mind to be in each moment. Only in such a way can a path moment occur, here and now. There is no reason why an intelligent, healthy, committed person should not be able to attain it with patience and perseverance.
So simple. 

Today, I shall strive to remind myself to focus on the task at hand, moment to moment. Driving to Zen Hospice, I shall only drive. Feeding a resident there, I shall only feed him. Taking a walk later, I shall only walk. Meeting my friend for coffee, I shall only talk, or listen to him . . . 

So simple. So difficult to sustain.

Hence practice :)

7 comments:

  1. A beautiful reminder Marguerite. Thank you. I now have started to check your blog every day for a new post. Keep up the great practice!
    Metta,
    David

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  2. And more Striving then ever .

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  3. yes, I often feel like my practice is like walking a tightrope, trying to stay right in the moment - then I laugh and realize that the rope is infinitely wide and there's no need for fear.
    Sam

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  4. thanks for sharing this wonderful wise advice!! yes, it is so simple in theory as a society of multi-taskers it makes me chuckle!
    sitting at my computer wandering to your blog...drinking coffee...going over my daily list...talking to my partner...aaahhh, the ritual of mindfulness! some days it feels like i am in 24 hr meditation just noticing my mind flittering from one random thought to the next...thanks for some clarity today!

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  5. Thank you David.

    Helping each other along the path :)

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  6. Sam, what a beautiful image! Thank you for sharing.

    I too derive so much ease from knowing that ALL of this moment is to be embraced, hindrances, unpleasantness, sweetness, joy, suffering, peace . . . you name it!

    Loving kindness.

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  7. Hazel, yes, multitasking is such a bad habit, to be indulged only in extreme circumstances. We all suffer from ADD to some extent :)

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