Reading Peace discussion

Dear friends,

We hope you enjoyed the first week of reading our October pick! And if you haven't yet gotten a hold of your copy (whether through us, the library, borrowing from a friend, etc.), don't worry —there's still 3 more weeks!

Here are some questions for reflection for Chapters 1 and 2. Please feel free to respond here or add your own questions or thoughts as a separate thread. If you are reading with a local book club or sangha, you can use these to get the ball rolling.

All guides are also available at: http://www.parallax.org/blog/category...

Reflections

1. The title of the book is The Mindfulness Survival Kit. Besides the 5 practices outlined in these introductory chapters, what else would you include in your own personal mindfulness survival kit (be they objects, practices, books, etc.) and why? Be creative!

2. We are all works in progress. Of the Five Mindfulness Trainings, which one do you think you need to work on the most? What makes you feel that way?

3. Pick 1 of the Five Mindfulness Trainings to practice this week with loving intention. Write it down, and put it in your pocket, purse, wallet, or even on a wall at your work desk.

You are already well on your way to ease your own suffering and the suffering of those around you. Thank you.


Food for Thought

"Mindfulness is the awareness of what is going on in us and around us in the present moment. It requires stopping, looking deeply, and recognizing both the uniqueness of the moment and its connection to everything that has gone on before and will go on in the future." pg. 9

"Buddhism was developed as a teaching path, rather than a religion." pg. 11

"Suffering has many faces. If we discover the roots of one suffering, we are at the same time discovering the roots of other[s]." pg. 16-7.

"Interbeing describes the awareness that all human beings and all phenomena are intricately connected to each other and interdependent." pg. 19

"The Five Mindfulness Trainings are called trainings because they are something to practice each day, not something we're expected to do perfectly all the time." pg. 23

I just got the eBook today. Chapter 1 & 2 is what I need to read this week or should I read more?

B.j. wrote: "I just got the eBook today. Chapter 1 & 2 is what I need to read this week or should I read more?"

Hi B.J.! Yes, you can read Chapters 1 & 2 this week if you wish to coincide with the guide, which will be released every Wednesday.

If you'd like you can read more as the next guide will be for chapters 3 & 4.

Just starting the book.

"2. We are all works in progress. Of the Five Mindfulness Trainings, which one do you think you need to work on the most? What makes you feel that way?"
The 4th Mindfulness Training seems to address what causes me the most distress - anger - and offers a way to handle it. "When anger is manifesting in me, I am determined not to speak." But even if I do hold my tongue, I still don't like the feeling within at all. The guidance to use walking meditation sent me to the detailed description on it in the 3rd chapter, giving me new appreciation for how simple yet powerful this practice can be in my life.

Things I'd include in my personal mindfulness survival kit:

1) My trusty meditation cushion.

It can double as a pillow, and I can use the buckwheat inside to feed birds.

2) Copies of "Together We Are One," "Heart of the Buddha's Teaching," "Old Path, White Clouds" and "Awakening of the Heart."

These are my favorite Thich Nhat Hanh books, and I'd want them in case I encounter other mindful survivors so we can continue to study the dharma.

3) A photo of my grandmother and my childhood dog Mochi.

A reminder that even if I am alone on a desolate island, I am loved and capable of loving all beings.

4) My iPod filled with every dharma talk and "This American Life" episode ever recorded.

"This American Life" connects me to the world (its ugliness and beauty) and the human experience, while the dharma talks keeps me company at night, when I can no longer read due to darkness

5) A manual on foraging wild plants and fungi.

I'd like to continue to be vegetarian and also not eat poisonous mushrooms.

6) A notebook.

So that I can write down everything I've learned using the above items, so that when I die, someone else may benefit from my work, and share it with other survivors.

Like Gwen, I need to work most on the fourth mindfulness training. The sentence that spoke most to me was "when anger is manifesting in me, I an determined not to speak". The training tells me to work harder to find the roots of my anger. I nearly burst into tears reading page 30! What a powerful guide to help me navigate my current situation!!

Stephanie

1) In my own mindfulness survival kit, I would include:

1. Body-scan meditation: This is a meditation I learned from Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm. Essentially, you relax by focusing on one part of the body at a time, noticing the tension there and allowing it to relax. I love doing this before bed, and I've found it's making me love and care for myself more over time!

2. Gratitude Journal: I love starting my days by listing what I have to be grateful for. Sometimes, it gets repetitive (especially when I've just woken up), but it's a great way to start my day seeing all of the wonderful things available in life. I also try to list the best parts of my day at night, so I can reflect on all the wonderful things that have happened!

3. Accomplishment list: This practice helps me when I'm feeling down about myself. Essentially, I write down anything I feel is an accomplishment of mine, no matter how small. This way, I can see all the good things I do, and if I'm ever feeling down, I have proof that I do worthwhile things. This list really isn't about bragging right or anything like that, just a reminder for myself that I have positive qualities and do positive actions and I'm not as bad of a person as I may feel at times.

2) Of the five mindfulness trainings, I feel that the second, True Happiness, will be the most difficult for me. When I read the line, "I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that I can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that I already have more than enough conditions to be happy," I knew that I greatly struggled. I'm always placing my happiness far ahead of myself, "Once I get this, then I can be happy," but I know that's not true. I would like to focus on being truly mindful of the present moment so that I can learn to be happy right now, as opposed to keeping it some foreign concept that I may achieve "one day".

3) Keeping with my second answer, I would like to focus on true happiness this week. I think I'll include the same quote in my reminder as well, as it really resonates with me and I think it would be helpful to reflect on each day.

" Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, ..."
All of a sudden I realized that here too, I need to start with myself first. How much damage do we do to our own lives!
I did work on No 5 mostly, now I think I'd better start with No 1 !

Thank you for your excellent responses!

Our 2nd reader's guide (for chapters 3 & 4) will be up tomorrow. Normally they are posted Wednesdays, but we at Parallax are so busy with the release of "Parenting in the Present Moment" that I haven't had much time to work on the guide.

I hope you enjoy it!

My book finally arrived !
Of the five mindfulness training so the second True Happiness is the one I need to work on the most.
I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that I can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that I already have more than enough conditions to be happy.
I tend to jump from one thing to the next looking to maintain my happiness.when I reach this goal I'll be happy etc.. I think it has to do with being a chronic worrier. As soon as I solve one problem instead of being happy I move on to the next thing telling myself I'll be happy as soon as I solve this next worry. Definitely something to work on.

Pixiepjp wrote: "My book finally arrived !
Of the five mindfulness training so the second True Happiness is the one I need to work on the most.
I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on ex..."

I feel the same way as you in regards to looking "for the next thing" and being a worrier...glad to know I'm not the only one!

1. I would add the 10 mindful movements because each time I practice them I'm filled with well-being. You can practice them everywhere, no need for a mat or lot of space, and it only takes about 20 mn for me when repeating each movement five times.

And the practice described in the book "Ten breaths to happiness" (Glen Schneider, Parallax Press), which to put it shortly is to stop and breathe mindfully ten times each time you see something beautiful (be it a blade of grass in concrete) or feel good.

2. I'm at a loss to choose one. I feel I have to work on them all...

I feel the same way... all 5 for sure! Before reading Thay's descriptions, I would have said 3 and 5. But now I say 1-5, and it even brings me a feeling of joyful humility to say it because there are so many opportunities for cultivation!

My mindfulness survival kit? I feel as though I don't need to do a lot of packing, since so many of my choices for my kit are always with me! 1) I carry my breath with me, all the time (and am so grateful for it). Since I began more intentional mindfulness practice a few decades ago, my breath has been my boon companion, whether at the moment of falling asleep, the moment of waking up, driving in traffic, or sitting with an actively dying hospice patient (I'm a volunteer.). My breath walks along with me, with every step. 2) I also carry my sanghas with me - ones from the present time, ones from the past. Their compassion and loving kindness nourish me and teach me, always. 3) A copy of my bodhisattva vows - just in case I forget ;) 4) A photograph of me from my early childhood days always reminds me of moments of great joy. Whenever I feel that I've become too serious, too isolated, too saddened by the world's events, I gaze at my image from 60 years ago and know that the simple joy I see is within me. 5) My eyes, and all they bring in to me during my daily activities, are also a cherished friend - a friend who is a splendid mindfulness guide. 6) Finally, I'll pack up my pup Willie, whom I adopted a year ago. His presence in my life has taught me aspects of mindfulness I never knew existed. What a mindful hound he is!