For longer than I can say, paying attention, mindfulness of each moment, has been the way I want to approach life. Maybe this started when I was about 23, and a friend, who was a yoga teacher, said, “Do you want to be enlightened? Then take every breath consciously for the next year, even while sleeping.” It was an incredible idea. But over the years this has become the way I approach my day‐to‐day life. I still think, but the noisy “monkey mind” is pretty quiet.
Here is a Zen story to illustrate how important mindfulness is to Zen Buddhists:
Zen students are with their masters at least ten years before they presume to teach others. Nan‐in was visited by Tenno, who, having passed his apprenticeship, had become a teacher. The day happened to be rainy, so Tenno wore wooden clogs and carried an umbrella. After greeting him Nan‐in remarked: 'I suppose you left your wooden clogs in the vestibule. I want to know if your umbrella is on the right or left side of the clogs.'
Tenno, confused, had no instant answer. He realized that he was unable to carry his Zen every minute. He became Nanin's pupil, and he studied six more years to accomplish his every‐minute Zen.
We can practice “every minute mindfulness.” Just really pay attention to what you are doing right now, this instant; the feel of your body, the feel of your skin. What do you hear, what thoughts are going by, right now – in this instant?
When we do this the monkey mind pretty much shuts down, and you are just in the present moment.
Can you do this? Try now and just notice.
How does it feel? How long can you do this? Why don’t you try and see?
Now, onto our meditation …
VIDEO: 10‐MINUTE MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS