Oakville Zen Meditation
Be still
Activity and movement are our default modes, not just with our bodies but also with our minds always in motion.
We rush around all day, always connected, doing things, talking, emailing, sending and reading messages,
There is no time for stillness.
In our society action and results are all-important, it is part of our self-image because we believe that we are important and indispensable. You never say to someone: “ I am doing nothing”
Being still isn’t something we’re used to nor to accepting.
Inaction is seen as lazy, passive, and unproductive.
Sitting still in front of a frenetic computer all day, and then in front of the hyperactive television, doesn’t count as stillness.
This comes at a cost: we lose that time for just being. We lose peace and quietness.
Sometimes even too much action is worse than no action at all because nothing is done properly.
Or you can get a lot done — but realize that the results are not that important, that few will care or even that you may be hurt by your own exciting behavior.
On the opposite, sometimes we are forced to be still and we don’t like it :
Because we’re in line, waiting for an appointment, or a plane, etc...
We become agitated, anxious, impatient, and need to find something to do or have an impulsive need to think about something to do such as jumping to our mobile devices, doing something.
Is this how you want to spend your life?
Here is a test:
Take a moment to think about how you spend your days — before work, at work, after work, evenings, and weekends.
Are you constantly rushing around like a hamster in its wheel trying to do a zillion of things? I bet you are.
Are you suffering from G.L.T.D. Get Lots of Things Done Syndrome.
The practice of being still:
It is not a big deal to be still unless you have a big ego making stillness a deadly event.
Don’t think about what you have to do, or what you’ve done already. Just be in the moment.
Stop what you are doing for a few sec. to 1 or 2 min..... no more. Your ego will survive.
Take a moment to be still, anywhere and anytime except of course while driving, eating, and dialoguing at work.
Sit down, close your eye, let go, relax your body, and slow down your breathing.
Your mind will automatically follow your body and breathing.
Be mindful of the stillness effects on your body and mind.
The stillness of the body brings further relaxation of the body and mind and focusing on your breathing may help the same way it does during meditation.
Being still is a practice of awareness, This is similar to rebooting your computer: shut down and restart
but instead of the computer, it is your body-mind.
Savor that stillness. It’s a treasure, and it’s available to us, always.
From the Tao Te Ching:
It is not wise to dash about.
Shortening the breath causes much stress,
Use too much energy, and
You will soon be exhausted.
That is not the Natural Way.
Whatever works against this Way
Will not last long. Thank you.
