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