Integrating practice and life
Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 2:57 am
I'm preparing to introduce a set of Dharma concepts - primarily the 4NT and 8FP, to a non-Buddhist group of people - most of whom have no interest in Buddhism or religion/spirituality at all and aren't particularly "intellectual" although they are smart. I'll be presenting these concepts completely stripped of all "Buddhist" terminology...there will be no hint that the concepts I'm presenting are of "Buddhist" origin or part of a "spiritual path". I'll also be presenting simple practices related to these concepts that are grounded in normal everyday actions with no reference to any obvious "spiritual" goals of any kind.
I'm curious how Buddhists bring practice to real life situations...I don't mean chanting, reciting Buddhist phrases, or reflecting on the suttas silently...I'm more interested in how you've made ordinary tasks and actions in the course of daily life into practice. For example, one that I started doing many years ago is when I put the teapot or a pot of water on the stove to boil, I stand and wait for it to boil keeping my attention on the pot until it boils instead of letting the mind run off while waiting for it. It's true, a watched pot never seems to boil. I've developed many of these micro practices related to many of the teachings over the years and know that others do this also. How do you practice in "real life"?
I'm curious how Buddhists bring practice to real life situations...I don't mean chanting, reciting Buddhist phrases, or reflecting on the suttas silently...I'm more interested in how you've made ordinary tasks and actions in the course of daily life into practice. For example, one that I started doing many years ago is when I put the teapot or a pot of water on the stove to boil, I stand and wait for it to boil keeping my attention on the pot until it boils instead of letting the mind run off while waiting for it. It's true, a watched pot never seems to boil. I've developed many of these micro practices related to many of the teachings over the years and know that others do this also. How do you practice in "real life"?