Dear friends,

In my last email I wrote about our habits and how we can begin to shift them.

This week I want to share about a very specific habit that I recently transformed (at least for the time being) and how it offers me the inner silence and stillness needed to develop deep awareness and touch joy.

Before I went on my 6-week retreat to Plum Village in October, I had a pretty strong habit of listening to podcasts anytime I wasn’t listening to anything else. For example, when I walked the dogs, when I showered, when I drove, etc.

After my time at the monastery (where I did not listen to any podcasts or watch any television) I realized how much space those podcasts were taking up in my head and thus how many minutes and hours I missed being present for what I was doing. Even though the shows were supportive in nature – they were mostly Buddhist or self-help related – they took away the time and attention that my mind needed to settle and deeply experience my life.

Since not listening to as many podcasts, I have found more peace and quiet in my mind. I am more aware of what is arising from my store consciousness. If what arises is sadness or anger, I can see it and know what I need to do to nurture myself. More often what arises are moments of joy and surprising insights into what and who most needs my attention in that moment.

Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) has said: The more space we make for stillness and silence, the more we have to give both to ourselves and to others.

Insights from inside of us are beautiful and unexpected gifts. The seeds of wisdom that have been planted and watered can arise and inform us when we don’t drown them out with other sensory input. As a result of this inner spaciousness, I feel more creative and have more clarity about my life.

We each have so many beautiful and wholesome seeds in our store consciousness already. Of course, there is nothing wrong with learning from others and enjoying a good TV show or movie. And it's good to remember that we already have enough conditions for happiness, and we already have enough wisdom to wake up. We don’t need to grasp for more.

And sometimes we need the support of listening to others and their teachings to remind us of what we already know and expand our understanding. Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) has said that for every one hour of learning and study (or listening to podcasts) we need ten hours of practice (or simply showing up in the present moment without distraction) in order to allow what we learn to be assimilated.

Although our culture pushes us to consume so much of other peoples’ stories and ideas, I don’t believe we need that much. A friend of mine shared that when she went on a silent retreat last year, she spent the first two weeks constantly replaying the shows and movies that she had been watching in her mind. None of it brought her closer to her intention to be free.

I’m more cautious now about what I take in and how often. Rather than taking in new information every day, I try to water my existing seeds of joy, wisdom, and compassion by spending quiet time in nature, sitting on my cushion or in the garden, or enjoying relaxed moments with my beloved family, friends, dogs, and sangha.

What you are habitually taking in and is it getting in the way of your joy?

I’d like to hear from you.

With love,

Annie.

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