This book is a collection of writings by many different authors. The subtitle "Applying Eastern Teachings to Everyday Life" gives an overview of the main topic. It is organized in different sections entitled "Openness", "Awareness", "Acceptance", "Letting Go", "Tranquility", "Harmony", and "Meditation".
The selection I just finished dealt with "bare attention". This quality of mind is difficult to achieve. Most people are either thinking about the past and dwelling on events that already happened or thinking ahead to future plans or tasks that need to be accomplished. Focussing on the present, paying attention to what is happening at a precise moment, provides an increased awareness of what we experience on a daily basis. As the author states, "Bare attention is very much learning how to listen to our minds, to our bodies, to our environment."
I have challenged myself before to try this during my daily routines and activities. We are so used to multi-tasking, worrying about all of the tasks we need to complete, that I don't think we are aware of what is occurring around us. I always enjoy rereading this selection as it causes me to slow down and appreciate the world around me rather than rushing to complete my never-ending agenda of trivial tasks. As a mother of two children with a full time career, this is a reminder to find peace and enjoyment in my family and in the everyday pleasures of life.
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