Gem of Wisdom for Daily Reflection: 

Being with what you do

Students making mantra rolls to use in consecrating statues, at the Pathgate Dharma Centre, England

In the Audio Teaching ‘Being with What You Do’ Ven. Lama Dondrup Dorje gives further explanation of mindfulness, explaining that the key practice is about being with what you do when you are doing it:

When you look at something, be aware of what you see, let your mind connect to what you see. When you listen, let your mind connect to what you hear. When you eat, let your mind connect to what you eat. When you taste, let your mind connect to what you taste.

Ven. Lama Dondrup Dorje explains that discipline is needed to train the mind and without having discipline to tame the mind, we would find ourselves driven by the force of habits, being busy in one mindless activity or another, never really connecting to what we are doing or who we are with.

For most people the mind is very much influenced by the flow of desire; desire that comes in so many ways and so many forms that it is very difficult for you to be aware of that. The main focus of the wise is to protect their mind, enabling the mind to stabilise and come to rest in equanimity and contentment. Likewise, we can do the same by not becoming fearful in acknowledging mistakes, take joy in relying on the guidance of those who know, and applying the three wisdom tools of listening, contemplating and meditating in our daily practice.

Play Audio (18 mins)

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