My Second Life: Small Habits Taught by Zen - Part 1

December 8th

I woke up feeling refreshed this morning, got dressed quickly, and went for a walk.
The moon had started to wane a little, but it was still round. Jupiter was shining right below it, as if snuggling up to it. The sky was a beautiful sunrise again today. Winter mornings are cold, but I am happy to encounter such "rewards."

December 12th
Perhaps because it was cloudy this morning, it was still pitch black during my walk. When I suddenly looked up, the moon, which had been round just a few days ago, had already become a half-moon. I felt that the seasons and time really pass by in the blink of an eye.

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■ A book I read during my Shinkansen travel time

The other day, when I took the Shinkansen to visit my parents' home, I read Shunmyo Masuno's
"Zen Ways to Organize Your Life." It is divided into short sections and can be read from anywhere, making it a perfect book for travel.
The appeal of this book is that it is not just "read and done," but rather "makes you want to try it starting tomorrow."

Although it is an introductory book on Zen, it is written gently about how to maintain a mindset that is useful in daily life, rather than difficult theories.
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A perspective that connects "ascetic practice" and "daily life"In the beginning of the book, the rigorous training of Zen monks is introduced.It is far removed from our lives, but the author says this:

Ascetic practice and daily life are different things, but their "approach" and "mindset" can be incorporated into daily life.
The first thing that left an impression on me was

the story of "waking up sharply in the morning."

I thought, "Put your heart into waking up? What does it mean to be careful?" but as I read on, it made sense.
• Making excuses in bed like "five more minutes..."

• Procrastinating when you should be getting up
This is not a "careful way of waking up."
Being careful does not mean doing things slowly, but rather

"doing what needs to be done now, without excess or deficiency."
In other words, even in the ordinary act of waking up in the morning,
your mental attitude is revealed.

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The way you "wake up" in the morning changes your dayReading this passage, I was also struck.I wake up somewhat aimlessly every morning, but

actually, there was a "way to direct your heart" there too.
This morning, I consciously tried to wake up sharply.
Just by doing that, my mood was lighter and my actions were faster.

When the morning rhythm is organized, I feel like the day begins beautifully.
I intend to continue this "small practice" from tomorrow onwards.
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Thank you for reading to the end. I would like to introduce this book again next time.

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