Humans learn how to deal with the pain of loss. As a matter of fact, we learn at an early age that being busy is a way to deal with the loss of a loved one. In other words, many people deal with grief by staying busy.
But this is not how Zen teaches us about dealing with grief and loss.
Human loss is usually followed by a memorial service, which is partly to remember the dead, and partly to keep the living busy so as to alleviate the sad loss of loved ones.
Getting busy has immediate payoff. In life, many of us use the same strategy to deal with difficulties in our lives: we keep ourselves busy to avoid unpleasant or difficult experiences. We keep ourselves busy to earn more money, to gain more respect, or both. We get busier and busier—it has become addictive. Unfortunately, at the end, everything falls apart, and we become distressed and disillusioned.
Be mindful of your busyness. Mindfulness requires you to take time to explore your inner self—that is, what is most important to you. You can be busy, while maintaining your mindfulness.
A Buddhist teacher once said: “When you are washing dishes, wash dishes. When you are talking on the phone, talk on the phone.” But many people are talking on the phone, while driving!
Mindfulness is “concentrated” relaxation because your mind focus on the present moment, not the past, and not the future. Remember, only the present is real to you. Visit my blog: Cope With Stress.
For more information on mental wellness, go to my web page: Brain Power.
Mindfulness is a byproduct of medication, which is the most potent mind-body therapy not only for disease prevention but also for natural healing. Meditation has been associated with religion because during meditation it is easy to conjure up images of divinity or the metaphysical. However, nowadays, in this world of stress and turmoil, meditation therapy is getting attention in the medical field.
Meditation is medicine in that your mind controls your thoughts, which control your actions, and your actions are often responsible for your health. Contemporary life is stressful, in particular in the present economic environment, which generates emotional reaction, anxiety, anticipation, and worry. Naturally and inevitably, your mind focuses on the past or the future, or both. The past is the breeding-ground for stress: your memories of past difficulties or failures are projected into the future, which become real and almost tangible to you, or rather your “reality.”
Remember, in life, nearly all your thoughts, including your desires and fears, are based on either the past or the future. These festering thoughts may begin to feed on the mind, generating negative emotions that affect your hormone secretion, and thus affecting your overall health.
Meditation is medicine in that it provides a break or relaxation for your thinking mind. Your body needs rest, and so does your mind. It is a myth that when you sleep, your mind is resting. No, it is not, because your mind still works in your dreams.
Meditation is mind-body therapy because it helps you focus your mind on the present to the exclusion of past and future thoughts.
Meditation is actually easier than your might imagine. Start meditation by paying attention to your breathing. There is no right or wrong way of meditation. Just practice it. Go to my web page: How To Meditate to learn how to meditate.
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
