The book The Sun My Heart: Reflections on Mindfulness, Concentration, and Insight by Thich Nhat Hanh talks about how we are always thinking about what's next and we rely heavily on technology. We have to find time in our busy life to sit back and relax and be aware of our surroundings. Hanh uses his own experience, science, and philosophy to guide the reader to think deeper and be able to find appreciation in daily tasks. He encourages us to enjoy our surroundings through the practice of mediation. One can always find time to meditate, even when we are doing tasks like washing dishes, mowing the lawn, and other common things. The book is not trying to tell us how to live our lives or tells us what religion we have to be, rather be a friend
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If, “we try to stop the flow of a river, we will meet the resistance of the water. It is better to flow with it, and then we may be able to guide it in ways we want it to go” (Hanh, 2010, p.7). This helps us to see that we must be aware off all the thoughts, feelings, and sensations, and should never try stop our them, instead we should embrace and reflect on them. Be aware of the feelings, thoughts, and sensations also helps us become in control even though they are flowing like a river. Meditation helps to show the two side of ourselves, “one is flowing river of thoughts and feelings, and the other is the sun of awareness that shines on them” (Hanh, 2010, p. …show more content…
11). When we become aware we are able to transform our thoughts and feelings, and observe our minds. Meditation is to be conscious of each second that one is living and aware of both the physical and psychological aspects of life that can arises. One example of this is when are take time drinking our tea or coffee, or the the idea of, “three hours for a cup of tea” (Hanh, 2010, p.15). Generally, most people just buy their coffee and are thinking about what they have to do next. Tea ceremony (2) are a practice where someone can learn how to devote time to themselves. Most of the time people do the dishes as quickly as possible and are always thinking about what they need to accomplish after. They are never in the moment, but if they take their time and just focus of the motion of washing and rinsing, it can help one learn how to be more aware. This action can be seen as “sacred and respectful as washing a newborn Buddha” (Hanh, 2010, p.16), “each thought, each action in the in the sunlight of awareness is sacred…… living fully in every moment” (Hanh, 2010, p. 17). Working is another example of learning awareness. When we are working just to be able to get food on the table, we are not enjoying our time. It is hard to take our time in this world because we are so focused on getting money so that we can buy material things. When we learn that
If, “we try to stop the flow of a river, we will meet the resistance of the water. It is better to flow with it, and then we may be able to guide it in ways we want it to go” (Hanh, 2010, p.7). This helps us to see that we must be aware off all the thoughts, feelings, and sensations, and should never try stop our them, instead we should embrace and reflect on them. Be aware of the feelings, thoughts, and sensations also helps us become in control even though they are flowing like a river. Meditation helps to show the two side of ourselves, “one is flowing river of thoughts and feelings, and the other is the sun of awareness that shines on them” (Hanh, 2010, p. …show more content…
11). When we become aware we are able to transform our thoughts and feelings, and observe our minds. Meditation is to be conscious of each second that one is living and aware of both the physical and psychological aspects of life that can arises. One example of this is when are take time drinking our tea or coffee, or the the idea of, “three hours for a cup of tea” (Hanh, 2010, p.15). Generally, most people just buy their coffee and are thinking about what they have to do next. Tea ceremony (2) are a practice where someone can learn how to devote time to themselves. Most of the time people do the dishes as quickly as possible and are always thinking about what they need to accomplish after. They are never in the moment, but if they take their time and just focus of the motion of washing and rinsing, it can help one learn how to be more aware. This action can be seen as “sacred and respectful as washing a newborn Buddha” (Hanh, 2010, p.16), “each thought, each action in the in the sunlight of awareness is sacred…… living fully in every moment” (Hanh, 2010, p. 17). Working is another example of learning awareness. When we are working just to be able to get food on the table, we are not enjoying our time. It is hard to take our time in this world because we are so focused on getting money so that we can buy material things. When we learn that