A Taste of Mindfulness
When we are ill and don't know it, we are in a state of ignorance
or delusion. We don't
view ourselves as sick, so we don't believe it's necessary
to go to a doctor or take any medication. We fail to recognize
our own need for care and support.
The same is true of someone suffering from afflictions of the
mind-ill will, ego, doubt, and frustration due to unfulfilled
desires. We rarely recognize the symptoms, and if we do, we
don't know how to change in order to live with greater harmony
and personal power. In order to understand what is limiting
us, we must learn how to see, isolate and intentionally respond
to these mental obstacles.
In Sri Lanka, people frequently talk about peace. For more
than 21 years, our country has been struggling for peace in
a process complicated by politics, religion, economics and ethnicity.
We dream of living without conflict. We long for peace to bloom
in our nation.
But sometimes I feel this peace is only a dream. How can we
overcome the tremendous obstacles in order to live in harmony
here?
During one of my spiritual travels in northeastern Sri Lanka,
I happened to stop at a tiny rural village. While eating a simple
meal, I met a very poor, innocent-looking girl. She was about
16, and had spent her entire life in this war-torn area of poverty
and despair.
In our conversation, it became clear that she had no concept
of life without violence. She
had lost her relatives, feared for her own life, and experienced
the ravages of hunger and homelessness on a daily basis. I was
struck by her suffering. Her appearance conveyed only a hint
of what she had endured. She looked calm and peaceful, but underneath
that serene countenance was a bubbling cauldron of pain, fear,
hopelessness, and despair.
Most striking of all was that she was completely unaware of
the effects of her chronic mental anguish. She had not even
a vague understanding that her suffering created such insurmountable
obstacles to peace and harmony in her own mind. She knew nothing
other than what her life had shown her, and was so completely
immersed in her suffering that she could not see the toll it
had taken.
A few days later, I was in the bustling city of Colombo. I
saw many people going about their business, and noticed that
same innocent, eerily peaceful look that I'd first noticed about
the young girl. I had to wonder what kind of suffering they
were experiencing under their own smiling masks.
We always sympathize with the unhappiness and sorrow of others.
We help people all the time, and this is good and kind of us.
But we fail to realize that we ourselves are suffering. Everything
that happens in the world affects us all. The relentless desire
for more of everything is a driving factor that leaves behind
unhappiness and discontentment.
We know this. We feel it in our hearts.
In order to relieve ourselves of this suffering, we must first
learn how to still our minds. There are many special mindfulness
meditation techniques that have been practiced by thousands
of people with tremendous benefits. The key is to remember that
you are your own master. When you start practicing mindfulness,
little by little you will be able to clear your mind of your
continuous racing thoughts. You must attain this stillness in
order to clearly see and understand your limiting thoughts and
self-constructed obstacles to peace and harmony. With practice,
you will be able to come to this still and clear state of mind
and overcome your mental ailments completely.
Here's a simple exercise that will give you a taste of mindfulness
meditation, which is often called vipassana meditation. Find
a peaceful place-your bedroom, veranda, garden, or even your
office. Sit in a comfortable position keeping your spine erect
so that you can breathe easily. Close your eyes if you like,
or simply allow them to develop a soft, unfocused gaze.
Now, breathe deeply and completely for a few minutes, focusing
your mind on the flow of your breath. Allow your body to relax
while keeping your back straight. Watch your breath as it goes
in and out, in and out. As you concentrate on your breath, you
will notice that your mind becomes more settled. Your breath
will become smooth and even. Continue in this state for several
minutes, and finish your meditation with several deep breaths.
By practicing this simple exercise, you will train your mind
to become still. Continuous sessions of mental calm will bring
you deeper clarity and a greater understanding of the source
of your mental suffering.
See it. Recognize it. Focus on releasing it.
Finding peace in your nation begins with finding peace in yourself.
Let's work on peace as individuals, and create greater harmony
together. We could all benefit from a taste of mindfulness.
About the author:
Deva Ratnakara has been teaching yoga and mindfulness for more
than 20 years. He lives in Sri Lanka where he is the head of
a 500-member meditation group. To learn about his yoga and mindfulness
retreat scheduled for February 2005 in Sri Lanka, visit http://truemindfulness.org
