| I often meet people who say things like, | | | | Mindfulness should be like a big game of |
| "I've been working with mindfulness for over | | | | mental hide-and-seek: "Where am I now? |
| twenty years." | | | | Gotcha!" |
| | | | |
| My response is always this: "Oh, you poor | | | | As a student of Buddhism for nearly 30 years, |
| thing! Have you tried *playing* with | | | | I have the greatest respect for the Buddha |
| mindfulness? It's very effective, and much | | | | and the philosophy that developed around his |
| more fun!" | | | | teachings. I have tremendous admiration for |
| | | | those who have dedicated themselves to a |
| They tend to look at me like I'm some kind of | | | | regular meditation practice. |
| kook, and then ask the million-dollar | | | | |
| question: "How can you play with | | | | But it's disturbing to me that mindfulness is |
| mindfulness?" Glad you asked.... | | | | seen as "belonging" to Buddhism and that |
| | | | meditation is seen as the only vehicle that |
| We tend to think of mindfulness as something | | | | will take us there. This sounds a bit like, |
| that develops only after years of dedicated | | | | oh, attachment? Clinging, perhaps? |
| meditation. We must sit for hours, | | | | |
| contemplate in silence for days, go on | | | | I just can't find it in my heart to believe |
| retreats for weeks, practice daily for years. | | | | that the Buddha would be ticked off about the |
| Okay, that can work. | | | | idea of developing mindfulness in whatever |
| | | | way works best. |
| The unfortunate thing is that it IS work, and | | | | |
| consequently, it's about as appealing to most | | | | Not everyone likes the idea of meditation, |
| folks as lying on a bed of nails. Sure, they | | | | but here's the cool part: those who start off |
| want to develop a clearer perspective on | | | | with easy, enjoyable exercises often find |
| life. Yes, they want to become calm and | | | | themselves seeing the value in sitting still. |
| contemplative. Of course they want to live | | | | In fact, many clients say they'd never have |
| more meaningfully and with greater joy. But | | | | started with meditation, but they so enjoyed |
| does it have to be so hard? | | | | "playing" with mindfulness that they have |
| | | | begun a regular sitting practice! |
| Absolutely not. You see, while most people | | | | |
| knock politely on that front door of | | | | Sneaky? Sure, but that's part of playing. |
| meditation in order to get inside the House | | | | Fun--in whatever form that takes--is what |
| of Mindfulness, I like to sneak people in the | | | | keeps us going back for more. If you're not |
| back door to steal a few cookies. Why can't | | | | grinning, you're not winning in this big ol' |
| we play with mindfulness, dance with it, | | | | game of life. |
| treat it like our favorite goofy cousin who | | | | |
| happens to be brilliant instead of our strict | | | | If "working" on mindfulness isn't working for |
| uncle who happens to have a Ph.D? | | | | you, try playing instead. |
| | | | |
| Why can't we tiptoe toward mindfulness | | | | Throw open the doors. |
| through eyes-wide-open exercises that are | | | | |
| engaging, uplifting, informative, and--dare I | | | | Let your inner monk go outand play. It's |
| say it--fun? | | | | recess! |
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