Architect Susan Susanka, of The Not So Big House fame, wrote a book filled with Buddhist/mindfulness ideas called "The Not So Big Life." One practice I picked up from her involved stopping throughout the day to "notice and name" what was going on at that very moment.
I adapted this in several ways, most recently as "notice 10 things." At the beginning it was trying to find 10 absurd or beautiful things. At other times, it was notice 14 things because, I think, I wanted to notice 1000 things through the 365 year. Later, it became just factual and object noticings.... what was going on in the actual world around me, rather than what was going on in my head as I raced from project to project.
One of the benefits of doing this is that it "slows the day down" in the sense that it helps me recall ANY details of the day whatsoever. Otherwise, I struggle remembering any details (like during my next-morning reflection) because my brain is planning, expecting, not aware.
Related to this...I've recently learned about Tonglen practice which is ultimately about giving and receiving. Ultimately it teaches us that generosity is nourishing, puts us in touch with primordial abundance.
In the "normal" state of existence, the days rush by, slip by.
Recently, I've listened to a few Art of Manliness podcasts involving Gregg Krech and his Naikan practice. This, too is about factually noting how we are supported by other people, things, energies. It corrects our idea of radical independence.
No comments:
Post a Comment