A Daily Slice Of Zen

Here is an Omamori, a type of Japanese lucky charm. This specific one is the one I got last year at New Year's at Sensouji in Asakusa, Tokyo, one of the most famous temples in Japan.  I was here visiting with Guro Guillaume and Guro Morgane when they came to Japan to visit.  It feels like a long time ago, even though only a year has passed.  Very soon this one must go to the fire to return to the Everything from which it came.

I made a decision to use this omamori as a way to practice zen.

For the past year, this omamori has been in my pocket every single day.  Every morning, I deliberately take it from my desktop, put it in my pocket, and carry it there all day.  From time to time, I take it out and reflect on it.  Mostly, however, it has been a daily reminder to me to do at least one single action deliberately, purposefully, with focus, every single day.

All too often it is the little things that go unnoticed and forgotten; it is the little habits that chip away at our awareness and slowly erode our willpower, turning us into mere creatures of habit.
By overlooking the little things, we are forced to wait in limbo between the big events of our lives, falsely believing that nothing else was happening in the meantime.

Zen is being aware and connected in the present, every moment of every day, one after another.
Achieving this is no miracle of instant awakening.  Rather, it is the calm, steady progression of practice at paying attention to every detail of our lives until we master them all - one by one.

We spend so much time focused on our big goals; the bigger the better - our aspirations for our education, our career, our love and marriage, our family.  We dream of our big houses, big cars, big vacations.  We miss the small details.  We lose the awareness of the little things that happen in our lives every day that shape how we are.  Sadly, we miss the little things about the myriad people in our lives that make them so truly unique and so truly beautiful.  We miss the constant daily feelings of gratitude we owe for the millions of blessings Life constantly gives us.  We miss celebrating every single breath we are fortunate to have.  We want more without fully appreciating how lucky we are for everything we already have.

This year, 2013, is a year of restoring balance.  2012 was a volatile year in every possible meaning of the word.  The weather, the markets, our relationships.  Everything was in massive flux and fundamental changes were in flight across the board.  Now it is time to let the dust settle and put our lives and our world back in order; A BETTER ORDER.

I challenge you, in this year, to focus on the smallest of details.  Start as small as you can.
Find a way to master them one by one, and I promise you will find a way to master the big challenges as well.  Use your focus.

May 2013 bring you happiness, peace, love, gratitude, and most importantly a renewed sense of purpose for yourself in the brave new world we face.
IT IS TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE.
IT IS TIME TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
IT IS TIME TO TAKE CONTROL.

MAKE 2013 THE MOST IMPORTANT 12 MONTHS OF YOUR LIFE (SO FAR).