Mindfulness Training

Other than meditation how should I practice mindfulness?

 Walking Practice

• “Kinhin” is Sanskrit
• Slowly walk, a step on a three count
• “Walking not in order to arrive, but just to walk.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Chanting

• Mantras or whole Sutras are chanted
  • Attunes the mind and body

 Bowing

• Expression of respect or veneration
• Greeting, thank you, or to take leave
  • Palm-to-palm, slight bow from the waist
• Gratitude
  • Bow at waist, drop to knees, forehead to floor
• Prostrations
  • Full Body Bow
    • “The act of unself-conscious prostration before a Buddha is … possible under the impetus of reverence and gratitude. Such “horizontalizings of the mast of ego”cleanse the heart-mind, rendering it flexible and expansive, and open the way to an understanding and appreciation of the exalted mind and manifold virtues of the Buddha and patriarchs. So there arises within us a desire to express our gratitude and show our respect before their personalized forms through appropriate ritual” 

                        ~ Phillip Kapleau

Zen Practices of Mindfulness:

• Akido A dynamic defensive activity involving body movement and sparrinh with a short staff or sword.
• Brush Painting The fully engaged process of tapping and releasing energy to create an especially powerful composition.
• Haiku A seventeen-syllable poem (3 lines of 5-7-5) capturing the essence of a subject.
• Ikebana The arrangement of flowers in a spiritually and aesthetically satisfying manner.
• Karate A weaponless form of self-defense aimed at disarming an opponent or rendering his hostile motions harmless.
• Kyudo A form of archery combining spiritual and physical training.
• No Drama A style of theatre aimed at the direct communication of experience and emotion.
• Pottery Making An approach to making pottery that conveys special respect for the materials and process.
• Shakuhaci The playing of a bamboo flute in harmony with the breath and the emotional force moving the breath.
• Tea Ceremony An especially graceful and aware preparation of tea and management of the tea-partaking interchange between host and guest.
• Zen Gardening A meditative approach to creating, tending, and enjoying a garden.