Well, it is quite challenging question on this meditation. Of course, we are always busy as if we have no time to die (all laughing). However, if we can manage our time wisely, we can spare some times for us to meditate. Then, how can we do so to spare such a precious time for meditation? Do not worry about it. I can do to spare your time. I’m really an expert to manage the time wisely. I’m also used to doing it.
Now, I will tell you how to spare time for myself so that I can do this meditation in such a busy life city monastic way of life by teaching monk and novice students, by giving Dhamma talk to the people you are also included who love Dhamma as a way of life, by writing books, sometimes by attending the invitation to people’s ceremonies of birthday, initiation, pre-wedding, naming a child of a certain family and so on.
Even life of a senior monk is quite busy like you to take care of people to keep them happy by attending their invitation when you live in city life of a senior monk. This is the reason why some of the senior monks who love practicing deep meditation left city life of monk and they usually stay in a certain remote forest for peaceful meditation. I’m actually one of those kinds of monk who love forest, natural peaceful environment for peaceful meditation.
Actually, I have spent for 8 months a year in the forest, Shan State since 15 years ago. (They said, “Well, you are doing.) Yes, I really do it because this was my dream when I became a monk. However, I still spend for 4 months in my mother monastery, Mahagandhayon to teach my students and honestly, I want to be with them after my 8 months retreat alone in the forest so that I can learn new lessons from my city life.
Now, as you know, my city life is quite busy like you do. Sometimes, I even have to travel to abroad for fulfilling people’s wishes by teaching them the Technique I have practiced for more than two decades. The technique I have practiced is “Mindfulness-Based Vipassanā Meditation. Therefore, when I’m here in such a busy city life as you said, I have to manage my time wisely.
Now, it’s your turn to record how I spare my time. My eating time, the time of bathroom, toilet and the time I’m walking alone are all my spared time to meditate. When I’m eating, I usually eat alone for mindfulness meditation. I can spare at least half an hour for eating mindfully observing everything that arises and passes away in me. When I go to the toilet, I can spare my time to do it mindfully. As soon as I take a seat on the toilet, I keep my back straight and make myself comfortable and relaxed and then pay attention to my breath as it is. I can also spare half an hour to do it mindfully.
When I go to a bathroom for taking a shower, I also pay attention to all of the feelings and sensations throughout the mind and the body when the shower sprays on me very lightly; it also spares my time for half an hour. When you are skillful in the technique, you can do everything more attentively much more in detail. You can begin your mindful attention from touching the tap and pressing on the button to the end of your bathing. It is the way how I get used to sparing my time in such a busy life city as you said. Now, I hope you get it.
Q: Oh, yes. A lot more. This is what we precisely need for this meditation in such a busy life of modern sophisticated world. You are really a wonderful teacher. Thank you so much. We really appreciate it and we are sure that we will keep your wise words to home.
