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Mindfulness and Transformation of the Heart
Mindfulness is the energy that helps the mind operate normally, just as blood circulates to nourish the body. When the “blood” of the psyche is blocked—when seeds of anger, fear, despair, hatred, and craving arise—mental illness is born. We need a “psychological massage” to bring these toxins up to the surface of consciousness, to face them, hold them tenderly, and breathe with them, instead of suppressing them with entertainment, television, or novels. Only when the seed of fear—of loneliness, aging, and death—is recognized, can the energy of mindfulness circulate, bringing clarity, lightness, and peace to the mind.
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Applying the Five Mindfulness Trainings as “nutriments” for healing, we stop the source of toxins and welcome precious guests: Dharma talks, walking meditation, sitting meditation, mindful breathing, and smiling within the Sangha.
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The support of spiritual friends—sisters, brothers, and practitioners—helps to strengthen the energy of mindfulness when facing great pain.
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Practicing conscious breathing, contemplating the green of the trees and grass, and smiling to the moon and stars, we invite “nutriments” to nourish our soul.
The path of practice is not something to wait for until the final stage of letting go. Right in daily life, when we “eat” or “succeed,” we can have the insight to pause, to let go just enough so as not to create suffering, and to nourish the seeds of love, compassion, mindfulness, forgiveness, and joy.
The Living Zen Tradition of Buddhism: Practices at Plum Village Method of Bowing