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Making Meditation a Joyful Daily Practice
Meditation must be made into a pleasant and enjoyable experience to be successful. Whether practicing mindful breathing, walking, or eating, seeking ways to make the practice joyful allows mindfulness and concentration to arise naturally. By being one hundred percent present in the here and now, one restores the freedom to be oneself, liberated from worries, anxieties, and fear. This practice transforms daily activities, such as eating an apple or drinking tea, into deep meditations where one touches the miracle of being alive and recognizes that twenty-four brand new hours are a precious gift.
Each person is the architect of their own day, responsible for how they handle the time offered every morning. Recognizing the conditions of happiness already available—such as having eyes that see, a heart that functions normally, and feet that can walk—is the essence of meditation. For students, learning should be a source of nourishment and discovery rather than a mere pursuit of a diploma. Taking care of the body by avoiding toxins is an act of love for ancestors and future generations, who are all present within us.
Practical techniques for maintaining mindfulness in a busy life include:
- Using the sound of a watch or a red light as a Bell of Mindfulness to return to the present.
- Practicing Telephone Meditation by breathing and smiling before dialing or answering.
- Utilizing Total Relaxation for fifteen minutes to renew the body and mind between examinations.
- Relaxing the three hundred muscles on the face during sitting meditation to release tension.
- Resolving conflicts through the Peace Treaty and Beginning Anew, using direct communication to clear wrong perceptions.
Regarding euthanasia, the Buddhist view suggests the possibility of saying yes, but emphasizes that decisions must not be made in a state of weakness and should rely on the collective insight of the Sangha eyes. Individual insight should be offered to the community, but the collective wisdom of the Sangha is necessary to guide one through difficult periods and the process of dying.