Meditation
The practice of meditation can be a valuable part of a flourishing human life. Many people are struggling with their lives. Some are stressed at work, in the families, schools, and in other social places. Sometimes stress gets so much better of us that we forget our true selves. We are covered by too much worry till we forget to enjoy the peace and happiness of enjoying the present moment. Hanh & Nhat state, “Peace is right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. The question is whether or not we are in touch with it.” (Hanh & Nhat 5). The civil way of living has taught us to value things around us instead of something within us. We want to be wealthy with many cars, buildings, good jobs, be in places of power, and be respected by society. However, we forget that the person who truly needs to be happy should be us through wishing for all these wants. Simple acts such as smiling, breathing, walking, and eating are ways that allow us to be in touch with the abundance of available (Hanh & Nhat 5). Hanh & Nhat talk about the importance of meditation in finding peace and happiness. Meditation and conscious breathing aids in clearing the mind and body, creating a beautiful relaxation. This relaxation aids in providing satisfaction for the present. This paper discusses the importance of meditation in flourishing human life and fewer techniques essential for finding peace and happiness.
Meditation allows us to appreciate little things in life that we often take for granted. Hanh & Nhat (gg) states that the opportunity to sit down with their family and friends and enjoy a wonderful meal is precious that not everyone is blessed. He notes how fortunate he is to hold a bowl of rice or a piece of bread. Meditating between meals reminds us of what he has that is just a blessing. It teaches us to appreciate the sources of happiness that we have within us. Not every person enjoys having their families and friends with them. Some so many low-income families cannot afford food. However, meditation allows us to have compassion for others, appreciate our blessings, and understand that strengthens to help the poor, the hungry, and the lonely (Hanh & Nhat, 24). It helps in supporting humanity and flourishing human life.
Meditation helps us to solve misunderstandings and avoid unnecessary conflicts. Having different opinions is a normal part of our lives. However, when not properly handled, it could ruin our families, friendships, marriages, and even our relationship with colleagues at work. Hanh & Nhat explain the significance of a breathing room. They state, “Every time you feel a little upset, you know that the best things to do are to go to that room, open the door slowly, sit down, invite the bell to sound- “(Hanh & Nhat 45). Every time there is a misunderstanding, meditation allows us to breathe, find peace, happiness slowly, and get to our stable senses. When the practice is transmitted to all family members, peace and happiness are brought back, creating joy in the family. Meditation can be practiced even at work where there is too much pressure. By taking a minute or two to breathe consciously, one manages to get solutions at work, which translates to better work experience.
Meditation allows us to find energies in finding today’s solution at the present moment. Hanh & Nhat state that most people cling to the idea of hope, which creates a belief that something better will happen in the future (Hanh & Nhat 41). They state that if a person would refrain from hoping, they can bring themselves entirely into the present moment and discover the amount of joy that is already present. Hope is for the future. However, it does not enable one to find joy, peace, and enlightens the present moment. Yet, enlightenment, peace, joy, and happiness of the present moment can be discovered through meditation (Hanh & Nhat 41). When we practice conscious breathing, our mind is refreshed, and new energies overcome current challenges.
Finding solutions for present problems creates a better future as opposed to hoping.
Conscious breathing is one of the ‘thinking less’ techniques proposed by Hanh & Nhat. The exercise involves breathing and breathing out. The method helps in keeping the mind on the breath. As one breathes in and out, the breath becomes peaceful and gentle. This is replicated by the mind and body, which also become calm and gentle. Breathing acts as the link between the body and the mind. Sometimes the mind is stressed out with lots of thoughts. The body, on the other hand, is captured in various activities.
Smiling is one of the ‘thinking less’ techniques affirms or awareness and determination to live in peace and joy. Smiling when you wake up provides a great approach to getting through the day with gentleness and understanding (Hanh & Nhat 7). Smiling at all our troubles helps us ban all our fatigue, worries, and face muscles get relaxed. However, by breathing, the mind and the body are joined into one. Conscious breathing allows one to recover themselves entirely and encounter life in their present moment. This vital bridge, breathing, makes the mind and the body whole again. Through breathing in and out, we can encounter the beautiful things in our lives and enjoy the present even more (Hanh & Nhat 12). Complimenting breathing and smiling make the body and mind even stronger by creating happiness.
Thinking of life as a work of art is an essential thinking less technique. For most people, their lives involve looking at things to get something out of it. Most people overthink everything that they come across. This is different from a meditation where meditators stop to be there and be with themselves and the world. Stopping to think, allowing ourselves to see and understand, helps create peace and happiness in the process (Hanh & Nhat 39). Thoughts of life as art allow people to view the world’s happenings with beauty, joy, and peace, which will make a life for people more beautiful (Hanh & Nhat 40). The story of the flower further demonstrates this. The Buddha held up a flower in front of the audience, and everybody went silent. Only one person smiled at the Buddha, who smiled back. The person in the audience just saw a flower. A flower that is beautiful and creates happiness by just looking at it. This is important because we do not need to overthink to find happiness. Happiness is always visible before our eyes. However, by thinking a lot about where satisfaction is, we lose the true happiness.