Mindfulness Continued

This morning, as I began to listen to On Being with Krista Tippet, Tippet mentions Thich Nhat Hanh's collection on meditative calligraphy in her introduction, an idea that came into my mind's view yesterday as I was wandering around the Tulane University Bookstore. The bookstore sold an item, brought to my attention, which is called a Buddha Board. The Buddha Board is apparently a board that can be drawn on with water, and as that water dried, the image goes away, leaving the artist with a blank slate once again. 

At first, I did not think much of this product until realizing that maybe, it could be a highly effective way of clearing the mind of that which causes us to suffer. I believe that the intention is for the artist to enjoy that particular moment of painting, but I see it differently. I see the product as a way to express something which could be bothersome and then watch that particular something just disappear, leaving you feeling like your troubles just floated away. I've heard this process described as "ritualistic", and for Thay, he has developed this particular method into a form of effective meditation. 

It is interesting that one of the people who were interviewed by Tippet is a police officer in Wisconsin. After going on a retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh, this particular police officer realized that to do her job effectively, she needed to do it mindfully. There is a possibility that there can be a balance between being fierce and at the same time compassionate, two qualities, that in their own ways, are called for in her occupation yet unexpected. I think that this woman's story goes to show that the practice of mindfulness is not only for those seeking Enlightenment, but also beneficial to ordinary people doing ordinary things, even if it is just walking or breathing. Mindfulness is a path that leads one to do the things that they normally do, better. 

Note: I have been feeling incredibly uninspired and hopefully my next reading adventure, The Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics by Gary Zukav will inspire me to be more reflective.