In Mihaly Csikszentmihaly's book (what a great name,it's even got zen in the middle of it) Flow(published by Rider 1992) he says, he discovered,after twenty five years of research,a vital fact about happiness.
On page two of the aforementioned book,it is claimed that happiness does not depend on outside events,but on how we interpret them.
People who learn to control inner experiences will be able to control the quality of their lives.
He goes on to say that, to paraphrase, people who are happy in their jobs and actually look forward to going to work,gave the tasks at work total awareness.And it was this total awareness,whereas the action of the work involved without ulterior motives,was the key to the feeling of happiness.
A Zen Master could have said the same thing.
If you lose yourself while involved in an activity,there is no sense of' 'I'.There is no sense of of perceiver and perceived;there is only the task itself.This is another way of discarding the ego.
I suggest that some activity that really appeals to you should be done by you on a regular basis.
The activity should make you so involved that you experience the feeling of complete oneness with the task you are doing.
What the activity is could be anything.It could be drawing, painting, singing,composing, knitting,gardening,stamp collecting or whatever you want.
When you engage yourself in whatever you are doing,just be totally aware of what you are doing.In other words, lose yourself in that activity,and entertain no thoughts of anything else.
Your whole life should be lived this way,but until it is, you can have a taste of it by doing something you love doing.
The strange part is that by giving your all into something,you lose your all,but gain something far greater.
Perhaps you say that you can't think of anything that you could do.If so, think back to your childhood and ask yourself what you loved doing then.
Maybe it was drawing or painting, singing or riding a bike.Well, why not return to that pleasure and take one activity up again.It doesn't matter if your first efforts are not good.If you keep practicing with full awareness,you will find that your results will improve.
It's a lot better than watching that hypnotist in your room- the T.V!
***************************
Nature is our brother and sister.If possible, try and be outside in natural surroundings as much as possible.Go for walks in woods,in meadows and by lakes and seashores.
As Aristotle said: "In all things in Nature there is something of the marvellous"
Whilst admiring Nature,try not to think,but be totally aware of what is going on around you.Listen,really listen to the buzzing of the bees,the birdsong,the sound of the waves on the seashore,the rustle of the leaves,and any other sounds you hear.
While listening to the waves,for example,shut your eyes,and let that sound be all you know.Think of the sound reaching your ear,and then imagine that you are not the listener listening ,but that the listener and that which is listened to, merge and become one.
Don't evaluate or judge anything.Except each moment as it is.All the time keeping your centre in your belly and doing regular breathing.
If walking by the sea,look at that great expanse of sea and realize that it is really you you are looking at,and you are joined up and part of everything.
Sit by the sea and look at the horizon;what an awesome creation, especially when you know that it is you who is conjuring it all up!
Breathe in the sea air and feel how invigorating it is.
No worries here-just the sense of being.
Watch the waves as they ripple through the pebbles on the beach.
In,out, in, out,this is the rhythm of life.Tune into it,just like your breathing in and out.
Be totally aware,surrender to your surroundings.
If you are lucky enough to have a garden,you can spend hours sitting in it ,or working in it.Weeding is a great activity to practice living in the now,as it is so repetitious.When you pull the weeds up think of the plant and you as being one.Not you and the plant.Plant + you= One.
If possible grow your own fruit and vegetables- you will really taste the difference.
And when you eat anything be thankful for it.Think of the history of the food you are eating.
The tomato that was once growing from seed.Think of the seed being planted.
Imagine it as a seed in the soil,and then the plant slowly emerging from the soil and growing.Think of the Sun shining on it and the rain falling down on it.Imagine the tomato being picked,put in a box, and taken in a lorry to a market or a shop.
Now it is giving itself to you.You should be very grateful for this and appreciate it.As you should be grateful for everything else in your life.Don't take anything for granted,or you stand a chance of losing it. In the blink of an eye,everything you have, could be gone.
Don't moan,don't complain.
You are in the situation you are in,because you created it.
Accept it with gratitude,and you will find that miracles appear in your life.
No comments:
Post a Comment