A weekly exercise

A weekly exercise

Each week an exercise will be posted for the aim of raising awareness and being present in the midst of ordinary life.

Habits of the lower self (one’s machine) prevent presence by keeping us in sleep. When we are able to change or drop our habitual patterns we are able to be in an awakened, conscious state. The less habits, the longer the duration of the state. If one were to work on one habit it would be that of prolonging presence. As our teacher has said,

“There is no greater habit to establish than being present, and it is a conscious habit.”

This week observe your machine in third person. For example in the bathroom say (your name) is brushing his or her teeth; (Your name) is opening the shower door or curtain; (Your name) is turning on the shower; (Your name) is feeling the water on his or her skin, etc.

Each moment of awareness births a moment of presence. How long can you be the observer of your machine with its habitual patterns?

“This most subtle awakening comes about through moment-to-moment attentiveness. ~Buddha