Be Where Your Butt Is
How many places can you be or are you being at any one moment? When you’re sitting at work is you mind split between here and there? When you are at home relaxing for the evening, is your mind someplace else, perhaps even back at work? Perhaps you are having dinner with friends and your mind is wandering off someplace in space. Maybe even while playing with your children you are thinking of some project you want to complete tomorrow.
How about taking a moment to be where your butt is physically located. Pull yourself back into yourself, and make a concerted effort to bring yourself back to this present moment and this present space.
It’s easy to be distracted, there are lots of apps for that, perhaps too many. There are even apps that claim they will help reduce, or minimize, or eliminate the distracting elements of your life; but it’s just another app.
Shut off the phone, TV, computer, even radio, and just be in this present time and space. If you are with your wife or child, take the time when you are together to really be together. If you need to stay connected to other aspects of your life, then at least set aside specific connect/disconnect times.
The same goes for your Buddhist practice. When your meditating or when your chanting be where your butt is. Be focused on really using the time dedicatedly for the maximum value. Even use your Buddhist practice to strengthen your ability to disconnect from the distractions of being constantly on, being forever connected.
“All of you should concentrate your minds, wear the armor of endeavors, and be resolute.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XV)
Don’t be discouraged if when you do this you find yourself being pulled by the need to stay plugged in. Just bring yourself back into your moment of practice, your moment of ‘being’ by gently reminding yourself with even a simple word such as saying ‘distraction’ to yourself. This is much the same I teach beginning meditation, when we find our mind wandering gently say the word ‘thinking’ and come back to the out breath.
Be gentle on yourself, remember every time you catch yourself trying to mentally leave your ‘butt’, every time you remind yourself of ‘distraction’ you have in fact strengthened your practice and will incur great merits. Continue to chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, practice the Lotus Sutra and concentrate your mind.
“Needless to say, anyone who not only keeps this sutra but also gives alms, observes the precepts, practices patience, makes endeavors, concentrates his mind, and seeks wisdom, will be able to obtain the most excellent and innumerable merits. His merits will be as limitless as the sky is in the east, west, south, north, the four intermediate quarters, the zenith, and the nadir. These innumerable merits of his will help him obtain the knowledge of the equality and differences of all things.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XVII)
