Dear Friends,
Gil Fronsdal’s translation of the opening two stanzas of the first verse of the Dhammapada is:
All experience is preceded by mind,
Led by mind,
Made by mind.
Speak or act with a corrupted mind,
And suffering follows
As the wagon wheel follows the hoof of the ox.All experience is preceded by mind,
Led by mind,
Made by mind.
Speak or act with a peaceful mind,
And happiness follows
Like a never-departing shadow.
I’m sure we’d rather have happiness rather than suffering as the result of our speech and actions.
The activities of body and mind are the laboratory, and we investigate our experience to determine what leads to suffering, and what leads to happiness.
This requires us to be mindful, with clear comprehension, when we act or speak.
As discussed yesterday, clear comprehension means we recognize our motivation for an action, know its suitability, stay within the domain of our practice, and understand non-delusion.
Bhante Gunaratana says, “We develop clear comprehension by remaining mindful not only when we meditate but also in daily life during every kind of physical, verbal, and mental activity.”
One aspect that we likely deal with on a daily basis is in the context of relationships – with family members, friends, co-workers, service providers, or someone you encounter along the way.
In terms of verbal activity, Oren J Sofer wrote a blog on The Practice of Mindful Communication. In it, he states:
When one considers how much time and energy we spend each day communicating (speaking, listening, email, text, social media), one gets a sense of the importance of bringing mindfulness to this realm, as well as the far-reaching and transformative effects this can have on our lives.
His post lists some core practices to keep in mind with communication, like being present, intending to understand the other person, and attending to the essential aspects of the message, all while practicing patience while developing these skills.
For today consider what is a physical, verbal, or mental activity to which you’d like to bring mindfulness and clear comprehension? When is mind peaceful, and when is it not, and what is the result?
Enjoy your investigation!
With best wishes,
Andrea
This is such a good way to start the day. It is very simple when sitting at the edge of a Northern lake or when in meditation with a group in silence. My life feels like nonstop white water rafting. It is in the great surge of day to living that I lose the thread of mindfulness.
R