Strong dissatisfaction with the materialist, achievement-based Western framework propelled me to mindfulness meditation and Zen practice. Professional success and material wealth did not always equate to happiness and contentment. Despite having experienced this feeling for most of my adult life, I have never resolved this existential dilemma. A solution finally dawned on me: less was preferable to more.
I was rushing between airport gates when I stumbled upon a copy of Time Magazine’s special issue on “Mindfulness.” As I examined it, I kept returning to how yoga and meditation routines had benefited me in the past but had taken a back seat to more pressing concerns related to my “survival of the fittest” way of life. The call felt urgent this time around. I decided to begin practicing mindfulness.
After almost five years, I am now a formal Zen practitioner. My practice influences my life in various ways, from adopting minimalism and accepting Zen precepts as my moral compass to integrating into a community and forming friendships and rituals that reinforce my realigned priorities. Most importantly, it impacts how I react to situations in my life.
An essential lesson I’ve learned in recent years is that a mindset shift is best accomplished in the company of others. I get my support and inspiration from the community, or “sangha,” as it is known in Buddhist circles. As mindfulness teacher Tara Brach says, “The secret ingredient of a full, happy life is the companionship of kindred spirits. We need each other to learn, grow, awaken, and experience true joy.” The value of a teacher or mentor is the second lesson. In the Zen tradition, once you become a formal student, your Sensei, or guiding teacher, is someone with whom you can discuss your practice regularly and who is vested in helping you grow. I am grateful to have both.
What is it that matters to you? For most of us, the process is as much about changing as it is about learning to accept our lives as they are. “The end of all of our exploring,” says T.S. Eliot, “is to return where we started and know the place for the first time.” Next, I will explore ways to develop a meaningful and transformative practice. As it did for me, I hope that taking this first step will open new possibilities in your life.