Sleepwalking through Life
When was the last time you stopped - really stopped? When time stood still and past and future ceased to exist for you?
We have choices in life - indeed, life is all about choice - but one of the most important choices we have is whether to live life in a state of active, conscious participation or to experience it in a dream-like state of passivity or even endurance. Few people would choose to have their life like this, but many of us, in fact, are doing a mixture of living in the past, anticipating the future, fearing, expecting, planning, judging, criticising, or waiting for the next event whether it be a meal, Christmas, a family party or the summer. Often this mental activity is negative or even destructive, causing low self-esteem or even depression.
Being present in the Now is when the mind chatter ceases and you are truly in life, able to feel, sense, taste, see, hear clearly and fully what is around you. You are a part of it, able to focus without distraction, have total clarity and discernment as well as enjoyment, whether you are bathing your child, eating an apple or participating in a meeting. Buddhists have done this for thousands of years, and the practice is as applicable in our world today as it was before.
If you can and wish, I encourage you to stop periodically in your busy day and be present in the moment, consciously. It is easy to be carried away and to forget the importance of doing this. They will be periods of calm that will still your mind and ease anxiety, and they will be hugely beneficial to your well-being.
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Victoria Prekate
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... Dear Claire thank you again for reminding us... Having the blessing of living opposite to a nursery,this morning I noticed the following: Schools started recently and each and every time the break bell rings, a swarm of children floods out of the class, running like a torrent, absolutely screaming top volume with excitement.Like you see in some documentaries, ecstatic cheering crowds on the streets, when for example the ending of the WWII was announced, well, the children are like that during each end every break!I suppose for them the prospect of play must feel like heaven on earth... Like many adults, I wish I could feel the prospect of each and every new day in the same way too! With love, Victoria |
Anne
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... Yes, Claire. It is so easy to dwell on past griefs, or happinesses. To anticipate or even fear the future. Your comment today made me think of "The Invitation" by Oriah Mountain Dreamer...."I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, YES" Reading your thought for the day just now reminded me to do this. With love Anne |
Marta Freundlich
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... Yes dear Claire, it is so simple and yet so difficult to be in the 'now'. Some people are able to live in a state of mindfulness (strange that we need more fullness of mind to go beyond its chatter!) at all times. What helps me to quiet the chatter is that recently I have become more conscious of my posture. I am now learning to align my head, shoulders, pelvis, knees and feet when I am sitting, walking or lying down, but not in the stiff pose of western alignment ideas, rather as people in traditional societies do when they walk with grace and ease. It is by being conscious of my body that I am able to stop and be more present in the moment. This is not just benefiting my chronic aches and pains; I am finding a stronger connection with all aspects of my being. Perhaps by relearning the basics of the body, it allows us to open to the newness of each moment. with love and gratitude, Marta |
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