“Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.” - Shunryu Suzuki Do one thing at a time. This rule (and some of the others that follow) will be familiar to long-time Zen Habits readers. It’s part of my philosophy, and it’s also a part of the life of a Zen monk: single-task, don’t multi-task. When you’re pouring water, just pour water. When you’re eating, just eat. When you’re bathing, just bathe. Don’t try to knock off a few tasks while eating or bathing. Zen proverb: “When walking, walk. When eating, eat.” Do it slowly and deliberately. You can do one task at a time, but also rush that task. Instead, take your time, and move slowly. Make your actions deliberate, not rushed and random. It takes practice, but it helps you focus on the task. Do it completely. Put your mind completely on the task. Don’t move on to the next task until you’re finished. If, for some reason, you have no choice but to move on to something else, try to at least put away ...
HANWI'S MESSAGE of Guidance and Reflection I am the subtle yet powerful force of cycles on the Earth and on your body. I am so powerful, but gentle, for I shift the tides and I shift your moods and receptivity. I am the light that shines in the darkness, for never, dear children of the earth, are you without the guidance of all That Is Life. As you sleep, I shine upon you, and draw you into the misty reflections of all that I have seen. I quicken change and motion. I relieve your headaches with the coolness of my light. I work with my sisters of the seas to bring into you the rhythmic respiration of life. When I am hidden from you, I offer you the opportunity to find yourself in the reflection of your spirit. For it is the message of reflection I bring to you. You live in a world of cycles that offer opportunities for reflection, understanding, and growth. Acknowledge these natural cycles for they are gifts to you. Being of the human tribe it is natural that you cannot ...
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