Daily Dharma 06: Eat Mindfully
July 5, 2008 by ScottyDoo
Filed under Daily Dharma
(Guest post by David from DailyDharma.net)
Day 6: Eat Mindfully.
“Know you that your bowl of rice, each grain from hardship comes?” — Cheng Chan-Pao, Chinese philosopher
Food sustains us, and connects us to the Earth. Let us not eat more than we need, nor eat ungratefully. Let us savor each bite as if it were the only morsel of the day.
Photo by Smaku
Today, Eat Your Meals Slowly, and With Purpose.
In our frenzied Western lives, food often becomes an afterthought, and we find ourselves grabbing junk food on the run from one place to the next. For some, food becomes more than sustenance – it becomes a crutch to alleviate daily suffering. Such habits can beget poor nutrition, low energy levels, and obesity.
Daily Dharma 01: Be Present. Live Here and Now
May 23, 2008 by ScottyDoo
Filed under Daily Dharma
(Guest post by David from DailyDharma.net)
Day 1: Be Present. Live Here and Now.
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
How can we can we be conscious, enjoy living, or accomplish anything, if we are not aware of where we are, who we are, and what we are doing right now?
Photo by Stuck in Customs
Today, practice being present.
Focus your mind on your actions, whether you are brushing your teeth, eating a sandwich, or hard at work, and avoid daydreaming.
If you are driving to work, simply drive. Do not worry about Monday’s meeting, about last night’s fight with a loved one, or about what another driver is doing behind you. If you are breathing, simply breathe. Notice each breath coming in and going out. Feel the air that sustains you entering your lungs. If you are sitting, simply sit. Pull your mind back to right now. Notice your surroundings. Notice your feelings. Notice your suffering. Notice, but do not worry. Just be.
