A Zen Lifestyle

     When I first read the book, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, I was very intrigued by the lifestyle the main character took upon, especially Gilbert's trip to India which consisted of meditating most of the day. I've been reading much about this Zen lifestyle and I have been slowly trying to make it into my lifestyle as well as reading about the temple that Gilbert visited upon and Buddhism, (this most is merely me writing about my new findings and not trying to force them upon any of my lovely readers). I've made up a how-to, if you will, on how to incorporate meditation into our chaotic and hectic schedules.

1.) Try to commit to at least two minutes a day, maybe even one if you are unsure if you want this habit to stick. You could even do five minutes to start - but you're only committing to a few moments a day.

2.) Pick a time and a trigger. The time could be any time of the day, whenever you would feel most comfortable trying something new. A trigger should be sometime you already do regularly such as reading morning posts, or brushing your teeth.

3.) Find a quiet place. Mornings are especially quiet and you may find them easier but if not, anywhere where you won't be bothered will work as well. It could even be under a tree in a park, a few passerbys will do no harm.

4.) Sit comfortably. It does not matter how you sit or what you wear while you sit. As long as you are comfortable and don't need to shift often during the first two minutes or however long you chose to do it.

5.) Start with just two minutes. This is really important because a habit, if you will, is trying to formed here. Many people think that they can start off with 30 minutes of meditation, however, this is not the the case. You will find it much easier to start a few minutes seven days straight rather than jumping to half an hour every day.

6.) You should focus on your breath. Imagine it as you breathe, coming in through the nostrils then down your windpipe and expanding your lungs. Feel it give your body strength, imagine it flowing all the way down to your toes and then working its way up the body from the ankles to the shins and so on. If you feel your mind wandering, which it will as you practice, bring it gently back to your breath and refocus. You won't be a pro at first but it will get better as you practice. 

And that is it, it's really a rather simple practice. Just the habit can be difficult to grasp. Enjoy loveys and be zen. - H