“Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak”.
― Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati,
I have always had a problem with sitting long enough to clear my mind and meditate. Actually I should say my monkey mind has a problem sitting still for very long, always jumping from thought to thought and chattering incessantly.
Over the years I have tried to sit and let my thoughts ebb and flow like a river, which they do for about 30 seconds and then the monkey mind begins. So I gave up, threw in my meditation cushion and called it quits!
Then I learned to drive the tractor and a whole different world opened up for me.
A world where doing this one task allows me to open my mind and let my thoughts move along with the rhythm of the tractor tires. Mowing the pastures while being surrounded by nature allows my mind to find the freedom it needs from the constant multi-tasking patterns. I am able to look at things from a more Zen perspective and let my thoughts just flow.
Walking is another way to allow my thoughts to expand. Each morning as I walk the dog my mind is observing nature and taking in the beauty of the moment. I can choose to just let my thoughts flow or allow my mind to go through its own agenda, finding the peace I’m seeking or the solution to a problem.
We all have that one thing in our daily lives that allow our minds to be present and focused. Tasks as simple as washing dishes, folding clothes, walking the dog or mowing a pasture can stop the monkey mind from its continuous chattering and usher in a sense of calm.
Meditation can be defined differently from person to person but for me it’s being in a state of mind where I can either close out the world and be with my tractor and nature or open my mind to work with a problem or dilemma that requires my focus.
What about you? Can you find that one thing that allows you to open your mind and just be?
Pay attention during your daily routine to what brings you the most calm and allows you to be present. Enjoy the beauty of what that one task or simple thing in your routine does for your mind. Then begin to find more things that do the same. Look at your daily life differently knowing that each thing you do can bring your mind into focus and will allow the monkey to sit in calm repose.
I would love to hear your comments on what you have found in your daily life that allows your mind to be at peace.
For me, I’m off to mow more pastures.
photo credit: Old Shoe Woman via photo pin cc