Zen habits is a nice blog that I like to frequent, and recently they posted a really nice article here:
I read this, and I felt this really chimed in for myself. I have the upmost respect for monks, and while I am not one, I do like to spend a weekend when possible at the Ryumonji Monastery in Iowa.
1. Do one thing at a time: This is really important to being with less stress. To illustrate what happens here is when I’m cleaning my home. I usually dislike cleaning, and when I’m cleaning I think of everything else but the cleaning of my home. I think about the computer, about people I’d rather be talking to, or the book I’d rather read, or the practice of the piano or the trumpet…the list goes on. I think about those things, and frequently visit the computer – and to do what? not clean. I’m too busy doing multiple things and cleaning isn’t done as much..so I waste more time, and cleaning takes longer and I just hate it that much more. The key is really to do one thing, and only one thing at a time.
2. Do it slowly and deliberately: I wouldn’t really agree with this in that things should be done slowly, in that it should be done with mindfulness on the the task currently being done. This follows with their next point, Do it completely, but really I’d say both of these are one point. Do it as slow as necessary, but the speed doesn’t matter – what matters is where your mind is at during the task. Don’t go too slow just because this says so…but don’t speed through it and be sloppy either. Balance is key.
3. Do less: This is something I really try to work on, and really this is more saying be realistic than anything else. What do I mean? For myself, I routinely spend time creating a huge list of things I want to get done – and I get done with roughly half of them, and that’s rushing through it. It’s nice to set goals high, but to set goals realistically is probably a better option than setting really high goals and not meeting them. This builds a lot of self esteem
4. Put space between things: Anyone familiar with the 7-habits of highly effective people will understand the importance of this. Basically we have stimulus produces action – and the space in between these two is the planning and the free will portion of the equation. The key is really to give time to really think about the task, instead of just jumping right into things. The point on the article isn’t described this way, but this is another area where I disagree with what they are saying. Having actions close together is fine, but the space between the stimulus and the action is way more important.
5. Develop rituals: I’m reminded a bit about how people are effective in anything, when looking at this point. How do people learn how to do something, and be good at it? How do people lose weight, learn to play the piano, learn to drive, learn to speak another language? It comes from constant repetition to really learn something. You can work out really hard one day, and not work out for 5 more days and be less close to a goal of less weight, than if you worked out all 5 days for 1/5th of the time and intensity. Setting a time for doing things, a block of time, is the way things can get done – and be on the “radar”. This doesn’t mean have an absolute perfect schedule, that’s impossible. What this does mean, though, is say from 6 to 6:30 PM I plan to work out. Put it on the calendar. Does this mean you’ll work out every day? Of course not, what it does mean, though, is when 6:00 comes around and if you’re paying attention, it has a better likelihood of being completed. I think this is really important, and something I personally need to work on more and more. This follows their point, Designate time for certain things, which is #7
6. Devote time to sitting: People don’t necessarily need to meditate here to really get this part working. As the author of the article writes, she uses running as a way. Personally, I like meditation, but I also enjoy reading and also listening to music. So…where this comes down to is dedicating time, every day, for just YOU. If you’re married, have kids, doesn’t matter – a good half hour is something that’ll really refresh your soul to speak. During this half hour, you should pick an activity that you enjoy doing – but isn’t related to other people. I discourage the use of television, or video games for this because both are really a waste of time. For myself, I enjoy picking a listing of classical songs, and playing them during “my time”. I do nothing else, only listening to the music – so no computer, no reading, just listening to the music. It really helps, and I’m sure it’d help out a lot of people if you give it a chance.
7. Smile and serve others: I encourage everyone to volunteer some of your time. Personally, I work at a food pantry in North Liberty. While I feel that some take advantage of the pantry, I can feel also that some are being really helped by going there. Giving a bit of one’s time to others is a fantastic way of seeing the world in a new light. I don’t know how really to explain this – but one becomes a little less greedy and self centered when helping others.
8. Make cleaning and cooking become meditation: While at Ryumonji, I heard about a monk who cleaned. I don’t recall the entire story, but basically a new monk came and was didn’t pay that much attention to the monk who cleaned, because he didn’t do his sitting meditation like the others did. He, and probably a lot like him, feel that meditation is only when sitting down – and that the “wise monks” come from those who are in seated meditation. He learned, though, that this monk who was cleaning and cooking was greater than the others in wisdom and knowledge. He was disregarded because of what he did, but was really great. The morale of this story really is that meditation isn’t only at the cushion. Meditation is something that should always be taken with you – cleaning, cooking, typing up a blog message, listening to music, whatever.
9. Think about what is necessary and Live simply: This is one of my hardest things to overcome. I am a gadget freak to a very large degree. I have 3 computers, television, ipod and headphone setup, ebook reader, lots of books, video games, and so on. Much of these items were purchased before I really took up the study of zen, but I think it’s really important to try and see an item but say – “Is this really necessary?” I have a really hard time doing this, and it’s something I constantly need to remind myself of, but I think it’s also pretty important to do. Does this mean not to give yourself “fun stuff”? Of course not. What this means is try not to overindulge as much.
/I have a lot to learn too when it comes to how to better live and to live with less. This article really struck a cord with me/ because it speaks so strongly of what I should and shouldn’t do. There’s a lot to learn from monks. I encourage people to read the original article, hopefully everyone can pick up a little something from there
