Don’t have time to meditate?

cupJon Kabat-Zinn reminds us that practicing mindfulness involves “coming to our senses.” Each of the obvious senses — seeing, tasting, hearing, smelling, touching – comprises myriad components. Take touch, for instance, with distinct sensations caused by different special-purpose neurons: light touch, pressure, contact, tingling, erotic sensation, vibration, sensations of temperature and pain. Most of the time we miss out on these subtleties, as our mind, on automatic pilot, streaks ahead to the next item on our to-do list. Yet, by paying close attention to ordinary tasks, we can experience richness of the moment.

Here’s a little experiment. The next time drink you’re about to drink a cup of tea or coffee, slow down, and STOP. Begin to observe what’s right in front of you. Note the cup, its shape and feel. Note colours, textures, bits floating, steam rising, the way the liquid fills the cup. As you raise cup towards mouth and nose, take in the heat, scents, and perfume, try to distinguish one from another. Now touch: feel the very first contact of lips to liquid, of texture and temperature. Concentrate on just this. Notice where the mind is going, backwards and forward in time and space – and return awareness to the feel of the cup in your hand, its surface texture, weight, size, and shape; notice temperature and moisture against your skin.

Only now, with awareness awakened, let the liquid enter the mouth: witness temperature, sweetness, bitterness, and their many combinations. Before swallowing, hold the liquid in your mouth, savour weight, viscosity, and temperature; notice how flavours unfold, change, and fade away. Hear the faint sounds of slurping, sucking, and swallowing. Witness the liquid gliding down the throat, into pharynx and esophagus. Finally, observe as taste and temperature linger, then diminish and disappear. How’s your body ‘feel’?

All over in a matter of seconds; and so is life.

2018-09-17T18:06:06-07:00May 9th, 2016|4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Melanie 9 May 2016 at 13:24 - Reply

    Sipping tea with thoughts of you, your beautiful words and your good health.

  2. Arnie 9 May 2016 at 16:02 - Reply

    Ahhhh, come to our senses. Walk perhaps? I’ve tried to contact you but your gulfislands email keeps getting bounced back and sometimes this doesn’t work either.

  3. Oma Brenda 9 May 2016 at 20:11 - Reply

    My morning coffee took on a whole new life this morning. Thank you, Peter
    Now living on Salt Spring and this island has awakened a lovely curiosity for us.
    We welcome visitors.
    Oma Brenda

  4. Mary 10 May 2016 at 03:39 - Reply

    Yes, I do want to practice s-l-o-w-i-n-g it all down. I have had to slow down these past many months,
    but it has been from exhaustion. Now that I am recuperating i can take these words to heart and at least some time during my days I will come to my senses and do myself and others I know a favour by using my senses to enjoy and savour and be present. Thank you, Peter, for all that you share.

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