Oakville Zen Meditation
The art of being appreciative.
During the day identify what you can appreciate in any specific moment. It could be anything.
To be appreciative does not mean to associate it with something exceptional, such as a huge promotion, escaping a terrible accident, receiving a fantastic gift, or sharing a good meal with friends.
Instead, try to be curious, asking yourself:
“ Is there anything I can appreciate…..right now about someone, what I am doing, thinking, the weather, the sound of the wind, an event, the taste of my tea, the smell of the rain, the color of the clouds, the texture of the ground, a smile, etc…?”
Practicing appreciation is a common Zen activity, a sort of spiritual investigation of being connected with everything around us that makes us alive. It will also help you to cultivate mindfulness of the moment, on-the-go, serenity, and even joy.
The Zen Buddhist term for joy from appreciation is mudita.
It means more than just appreciating what makes us feel good, upbeat, and happy.
It includes the genuine happiness we feel when using sensorial connection with our environment, people’s joy, the beauty of Nature, etc…..
The quality of happiness, even joy is not hard to share, and to feel with other people we connect very well such as family members, and close friends.
But it can be very challenging if not impossible with someone we dislike somewhat or that we envy or disagree with.
Can we feel joy, and appreciation while observing their joy, and success?
Probably not because of our potential ego-driven jealousy, or disinterest.
And yet, sharing the joy of others is an integral part of Zen practice as Zen Master
Maezumi Roshi always admonished us with his advice:
“ Appreciate your life contents as there are because, without them, you will not exist.
Appreciating implies accepting, a key mental tool while searching for serenity to achieve Awakening.
Without this tool, Awakening will remain a mirage in the desert, and every mirage is an illusion.
I am repeating word for words what Thich Nhat Hanh told me during a retreat:
"Every day, learn to appreciate something, even the most boring stuff passing by such as the sun rising, the sound of the wind, a bird singing, the color of a rose, a white cloud,........
How often do you, spontaneously, appreciate being alive? Probably never.
Sounds weird isn’t it……… but when you do so, you realize the rest becomes relative.
Thanks
