Zen monks spend part of their day in service to others, whether that be other monks in the monastery or people on the outside world. You could use any activity in the same way, as long as you do it regularly and practice being present. You can devote time for sitting meditation, or do what I do: I use running as a way to practice being in the moment. This meditation is really practice for learning to be present. Each day, there is time designated just for sitting. In the life of a Zen monk, sitting meditation (zazen) is one of the most important parts of his day. If it’s important enough to do regularly, consider designating a time for it. You can designate time for your own activities, whether that be work or cleaning or exercise or quiet contemplation. This ensures that those things get done regularly. A time for for bathing, a time for work, a time for cleaning, a time for eating. There are certain times in the day of a Zen monk designated for certain activities. You don’t have to learn the Zen monk rituals - you can create your own, for the preparation of food, for eating, for cleaning, for what you do before you start your work, for what you do when you wake up and before you go to bed, for what you do just before exercise. Ritual gives something a sense of importance - if it’s important enough to have a ritual, it’s important enough to be given your entire attention, and to be done slowly and correctly. Zen monks have rituals for many things they do, from eating to cleaning to meditation. That gives you a more relaxed schedule, and leaves space in case one task takes longer than you planned. Don’t schedule things close together - instead, leave room between things on your schedule. Related to the “Do less” rule, but it’s a way of managing your schedule so that you always have time to complete each task. If you fill your day with tasks, you will be rushing from one thing to the next without stopping to think about what you do. If you do less, you can do those things more slowly, more completely and with more concentration. However, he doesn’t have an unending task list either - there are certain things he’s going to do today, and no more. A Zen monk doesn’t lead a lazy life: he wakes early and has a day filled with work. Then you’re done with that task, and can focus more completely on the next task. If you prepare a sandwich, don’t start eating it until you’ve put away the stuff you used to prepare it, wiped down the counter, and washed the dishes used for preparation. If, for some reason, you have no choice but to move on to something else, try to at least put away the unfinished task and clean up after yourself. Don’t move on to the next task until you’re finished. It takes practice, but it helps you focus on the task. Make your actions deliberate, not rushed and random. Instead, take your time, and move slowly. You can do one task at a time, but also rush that task. Don’t try to knock off a few tasks while eating or bathing. When you’re pouring water, just pour water. It’s part of my philosophy, and it’s also a part of the life of a Zen monk: single-task, don’t multi-task. This rule (and some of the others that follow) will be familiar to long-time Zen Habits readers. “Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.” – Shunryu Suzuki However, I’ve found that there are certain principles that can be applied to any life, no matter what your religious beliefs or what your standard of living. I am no Zen master … I am not even a Zen Buddhist. However, for those who would like a little more detail, I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve discovered to work very well in my experiments with Zen-like living. One of my favorite Zen monks, Thich Nhat Hanh, simplified the rules in just a few words: “Smile, breathe and go slowly.” It doesn’t get any better than that. Because it serves as an example for our lives, and whether we ever really reach that ideal is not the point. Why live more like a Zen monk? Because who among us can’t use a little more concentration, tranquility, and mindfulness in our lives? Because Zen monks for hundreds of years have devoted their lives to being present in everything they do, to being dedicated and to serving others. You probably don’t want to become a Zen monk either, but you can live your life in a more Zen-like manner by following a few simple rules. However, I find great inspiration in the way they try to live their lives: the simplicity of their lives, the concentration and mindfulness of every activity, the calm and peace they find in their days. I’m not a Zen monk, nor will I ever become one. “We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.” – Thich Nhat Hanh By Leo Babauta
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