Lessons from "Inward Bound"

Why did you select this book to read?

As I’m interested in reading spiritual books and practicing for meditation, I used to search for new knowledge. Last year l got an opportunity to participate for a retreat on Mindfulness. Thereafter, my interest grows on the subject. One day when I was listening to an International webinar on mindfulness, that session was Moderated by Mr Deepal Sooriyarachchi. The organizer introduced him as an author of many business books in Sinhala and Inward Bound for Mindfulness. It made me to check my bookshelf to find the book. As I have purchased it at a book launched at PIM some time back. I went through the book again & realized the value of those practical guidance to our life.

Read it and reflect on it.

What is mindfulness?

It’s not about “a mind full of things”. But to being able to know what goes on in your mind in this present moment. Aware of the things happening around you and within you.

To be here and now, let go of the past & the future. In the book Mr Sooriarachchi shares how hunters in Asian countries use a simple trick to capture monkeys.

 The hunters make a small hole in a coconut that a monkey can reach inside only by squeezing the hand. Inside the coconut they place some peanuts. When the monkey reaches and grabs a few peanuts and close the fist, it will fail to pull the hand out of the coconut. The monkey couldn’t figure out that by letting go of these peanuts, that it can pull the hand out. Eventually the hunters capture the monkey.

 This is exactly what happens to us. Until we let go of the painful thoughts of the past and worries about the future, we can be free from the suffering and enjoy the present moment.

 “Self-awareness is a key component of Emotional Intelligence”- Daniel Goleman

 It’s a critical capability for today’s successful Executives and central to success of a businessman in the 21^st Century.

 

How can we use mindfulness in our day-to-day life?

 In the book you can find 20 simple practices we can use in our day-to-day life. Such as drinking your cup of tea/coffee, eating as a practice to improve mindfulness, shower in the present moment, get dress mindfully, driving mindfully is a pleasure, cooking in the present moment, practice in the shopping mall, stretch and start slow to drive fast.

 Let’s talk about, having your morning cup of tea/coffee as it’s done for the 1^st time…

 Observe the shape of the cup,

Look at the tea inside the cup,

Observe the color of the tea/coffee in the cup,

Now touch the cup and hold it. Feel the warmth and the smoothness of its surface,

Bring the cup towards your mouth as slow as possible,

Observer the aroma emerges from the tea/coffee,

Notice the intention to drink,

Bring the cup closer to your lips,

Observe the warm sensation on your lips,

Become aware of the process how hot tea/coffee touches your lips and tongue,

The taste?... the sound of swallowing…

 Repeat the whole process as many times, slower to become aware of the present moment.

 

How important is paying forward instead of paying back?

 In the book he shares the lessons learned and best practices from Dai Ichi life insurance sponsors seminar.

After world war II, Japan was helped by German Insurance company to restart their insurance. They wanted to show their gratitude. But the German company did not need any help. Hence, they decided not to pay back but to pay forward.

Being grateful is a skill that can be developed and can be a way of life. (Living a life with an attitude of Gratitude) Remembering the help offered to us by another person in different stages of our life. We will recall many who helped us in both big or small ways – Paying Back

 Being grateful towards them, in our thoughts and do what was done to us, to others – Paying forward

 

What is the formula for success?

Before we talk about for success, let’s know how we fail. In the book he develops an acronym called RAPID.

R- Restlessness and Remorse, meaning lack of focus, inability to stay on course and being worried about what was done or not done in the past.

A – Aversion, fighting and avoiding situations that I do not like

P – Procrastination, postponing things to be done later

I – Indulgence, giving into the demands to satisfy senses forgetting the task at hand

D- Doubt, lack of self-confidence, not having a clear idea of the path to be followed.

 

The 5R formula to overcome RAPID,

(For more details visit,  www.mindfulexecutive.net)

The Power of Now

 

The spiritual book that ignites me for being in the present moment.

During the 1^st lockdown in Covid 19 pandemic, I was able to download an eBook called “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle.  At first, I couldn’t get the concepts clearly. But, during the month of August, I got an opportunity to participate for a seven-day residential retreat at Nissarana Vanaya, Meethirigala (details on www.nissarana.lk). There I learned to practice mindful walking, mindful sitting and perform activities mindfully during the day. Without any distraction from scrolling through social media on mobile, reading books, watching television and even talking to each other. That relaxation helped me to understand the importance of being in the presence. Once I return back, I went through the chapters as I practiced with SMS - Slowly, Mindfully and Silently.

Once I mentioned that I’m currently reading “The Power of Now” in one of the Pick a Book sessions, an awesome friend of mine, TM Shuvo Hridayesh said that he has the hardcopy and handed over to me to go through it. I got super exited and did a presentation and practice session on it.

Let’s first get to know about the author;

•        Eckhart Tolle is a spiritual teacher, presenter and best-selling author

•        He’s a German born resident of Vancouver, Canada

•        “The most popular spiritual author in US” – The New York Times

•        The Power of Now has sold over 2 Million copies and translated into over 30 foreign languages

 This book contains with 10 wonderful chapters, starting with You are not your Mind, The way out of Pain, Moving deeply into the Now, Mind strategies for avoiding the Now, The state of Presence, The inner Body, Portals into the Unmanifested, Enlightened Relationships, Beyond Happiness and Unhappiness there is Peace and The meaning of Surrender.

On the Introduction, the author mentions that until his thirtieth year, he lived in a state of almost continuous anxiety sprinkled with periods of suicidal depression. It feels him, as if he’s talking about some past lifetime or somebody else’s life.

On chapter one, You are not your mind, starts with a story of an old man who had been sitting by the roadside begging for years. One day a stranger came and said, “I have nothing to give you” also he asked, “What’s inside that box you are sitting on” Then the beggar replied, “Nothing, I haven’t ever look inside” Afterwards, the beggar opened it and found the box full of gold. Just like that, we are sitting on our own treasure/wealth without knowing what’s inside ourself.

Some of the concepts are;

Ø  What is the greatest obstacle to enlightenment? – The author says that, “It’s true that I do lot of aimless thinking, like most people, but I can still choose to use my mind to get and accomplish things and I do that all the time.”

 Ø  Freeing yourself from your mind – The author mentions to watch the thinker and “Draw your consciousness away from mind activity and create a gap of no-mind in which you are highly alert and aware but not thinking.”

Ø  Rising above thought – As per the author, “The mind is essentially a survival machine. Attack and defense against other minds, gathering, stories and analyzing information.”

 Ø  The body’s reaction to your mind – What about emotions? The author states “To feel your emotions, start by focusing attention on the inner energy field of your body. Feel the body from within.”

 

On the next chapter, Consciousness: The way out of pain. The author mentions that “Nobody’s life is entirely free of pain and sorrow. Isn’t it a question of learning to live with them rather than trying to avoid them?” Also, some of the sub-headings the author discusses;

v Create no more pain in the present – “The greater part of human pain is unnecessary. It’s self-created as long as the unobserved mind runs your life.” Also, you can free yourself from disappointments in the past and worrying about the future.

 v Past pain: Dissolving the pain-body – “Fight with the pain-body would create inner conflict and thus further pain. Watching it implies accepting it as part of what is at that moment.”

 v The origin of Fear – “Fear has been part of our basic underlying emotional pain and isn’t a certain amount of fear just healthy self-protection?”

 v The Ego’s search for wholeness - “As long as the egoic mind is running your life, you cannot truly be at ease; you cannot be at peace or Fulfilled.”

  

 On the subsequent chapter, Moving deeply into the now. The author discusses the below concepts with details;

•        Letting go of Psychological time - “If you dwell on mentally, self-criticism, remorse or guilt come up, then you are making it part of your Psychological time. Which is identification with the past and continuous compulsive projection into the future.”

•        Finding the life underneath your life situation - “Forget about your life situation for a while and pay attention to your life.”

•        All problems are illusions of the Mind - “The problems are mind-made and need time to survive. It is impossible to have a problem when your attention is fully in the Now.”

•        The joy of Being - “As you honor the present moment, all unhappiness and struggle dissolve and life begins to flow with joy and ease.”

Quick summary:

         -  Freeing yourself from your mind.

         -  Every person carries the seed of enlightenment deep within.

         -  Be the one who observes, the silent watcher of your mind.

         -  Be the power of your own conscious ‘Presence’.

 

This is your state of Being. You have succeeded already!

(For more details on www.eckharttolle.com)