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Grocery store meditation? :)
Hello,
I was in a grocery store this afternoon. The sights, marketing, sounds, colors and general sensory overload was incredible. How does one attain a sense of peace in a place like this. I tried to focus on ONE thing at a time and to take it into thought. I also have a tendency to focus out of these things completely. it is so easy to become attached to so many things in this environment. Any opinions on how you navigate a grocery store in a contemplative way? LOL :rolleyes:
Thanks and I hope your day is a good one.
todd
I was in a grocery store this afternoon. The sights, marketing, sounds, colors and general sensory overload was incredible. How does one attain a sense of peace in a place like this. I tried to focus on ONE thing at a time and to take it into thought. I also have a tendency to focus out of these things completely. it is so easy to become attached to so many things in this environment. Any opinions on how you navigate a grocery store in a contemplative way? LOL :rolleyes:
Thanks and I hope your day is a good one.
todd
0
Comments
I was definitely in the moment. The problem was the million things to be aware of.
I, for example, meditate while driving. I spend over an hour a day commuting to and from work and using that time for meditation has been a positive experience. I've had some luck with meditation while walking too. Waiting in the doctor's office (or any other place) can be used for that goal as well.
I guess being in the moment can be applied to everything. But, we move so fast and it's hard for me just to slow down and live. Isn't that a crazy statement. But, it's true for my aspirations and what the current state of our culture affords.
I am going to focus on my breath- my footfalls - and the sounds the next time I go grocery shopping. I will go from there.
There is one bright side to all of this. All of these distractions and things help someone to truly test their limits and find peace. It's almost a boon.
have a good day
atticus
I don't know if it's any consolation but I think spiritual path is always somewhat contrary to what society believes, wants and demands. You want "out" but they seem to want you "in" (even though some say that at more advanced stages "in" and "out" are supposed to disappear).
Today the challenge for many may be the fast pace of our lives. In the past, it may have been crushing poverty, war or religious tyranny. Yet I think it's always been difficult, in one way or another.
But I'd be lying if I not admitted that often the noise and the race of modernity intimidates and dispairs me. Yet I hope...What I think can help is the awareness that the perpetuators of "the system" are not such because of inherent malice but because they, just like me, seek to avoid suffering and be happy, yet suffer and get lost even more because of the ego's fog.
I think we can all suffer from stimulation overload, especially when we are surrounded with a clash of colors, loud and jangled noises, and the crowds of the market place.
However, I do think we must come to understand that solitude isn’t a place, it is a state of mind.
If the next time you go shopping, you don’t allow your mind to linger on where you would rather be (one root of suffering), and like you say, you concentrate on your breath (removing the tendency to be scattered; another root of suffering) you will come through this in a happier state of mind. But, like any skill it may need some time and perserverance to finally conquer...but conquer you will. : ^ )
If at first you find watching your breath a bit difficult, add counting your breaths 1-10 and starting over to this mix. This will rev up your ability to stay focused.
Keep on truckin, : ^ )
S9
It's people like you whot cause unrest.
(..to quote one of my favorite Monty Python lines of all time).
Mtns