Mindfulness

I’m rereading a novel in a series by Barry Eisler. His protagonist is John Rain, who had A Japanese father and an American mother, but found himself not accepted in either place. Rain is the type of character I find myself enjoying, an anti-hero of sorts in the mold of Jack Reacher, Mitch Rapp, Phil Broker, and Bob Lee, or Earl Swagger among several others. The question of whether they are good men or not is left unaddressed and in their exploits you often find yourself asking if they’re doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, or if it’s the right thing for the wrong reasons. This moral ambiguity is left to the readers discernment, but in as much as you can find yourself in just about anyone else, I find these characters very relatable.

Those I mentioned above have all had television or movie treatments and as always, what is compelling on the page doesn’t always translate well to the screen. I hear an adaptation of John Rain is being developed for Apple TV. If Eisler is involved like Michael Connelly has been in the Harry Bosch, Mickey Haller, and Renee Ballard TV series, it could be worth a watch.

In this eighth Rain novel our antihero comes under the influence of a Japanese political fixer and their relationship is one of mutual respect. Rain is still young, while Miyamoto has the benefit of age and experience. the lessons Miyamoto imparts to Rain are not always direct. In one meeting over tea, Miyamoto mentions Ikigai, or reason for being, which has several different parts, of which Chanoyu, or the Japanese Tea Ceremony is but one. A part of that and a theme that runs through all of Ikigai is mindfulness. To be fully present in the moment. To be precise in thought, word, and deed. To be fully invested in what is right in front of you. In this case, the tea. It’s preparation, it’s presentation, the act of drinking, it’s taste and aroma, an appreciation of all the things that make this one seemingly mundane routine or task be the focus of all your attention.

More broadly, it means to live a life of intention. To be fully present in everything you do. Among these are several practices. Zazen – Finding stillness through meditation. At its minimum, the core of Zen meditation. Finding something to focus on, relax your breathing, quieting your mind, letting go of distractions, and to be fully present in the moment. I find this in simple prayer. It is easy to let the distractions of daily life override the fact only you can control how you feel and react to any given situation. In my first moments of each day, I ask for direction and the awareness to be useful. Some days, it’s truly a Zen thing. Everything seems to work and make sense. more often than not though, I get lost in the bustle of activities and can be aggravated by circumstances beyond my control. It is those moments I need to remember I can only control myself and reactions. I admit there are days that’s hard to do.

Another is, Shinrin-yoku – Forest bathing for relaxation. It sounds a kind of new age, Hippy practice, but I have been doing this for decades, however unintentionally. Every so often, I am unfit to be with. I have have no interest in playing well with others, and my patience can be measured on a negative scale. It’s been practice of mine now since my late teens to remove myself from society and find a quiet place away from people. Be it in the mountains, the desert, on the water, just away. I immerse myself in the place I find myself. That fishing, hunting, or camping is involved isn’t the point. It is to be fully present in the environment I find myself in. The sights, the sounds, the smells, even the weather. I even found this intention on back roads on a growling bike and let the miles pass away as I discovered, I wonder what’s thataway? Then going and finding out. At times I took that to extremes and wouldn’t come home for a stretch. That irked those around me, but it restored my soul at times I felt it diminished. Hard to explain, but I suppose most folks have that one thing that pulls at them harder than anything else. I suppose the trick is finding balance. Easier today that 30 years ago, but still it calls.

I suppose one of my favorites is Wabi-sabi – Appreciating the beauty of impermanence. Not even stars last forever. Everything in life has a beginning and a middle, and an end. Being able to understand an accept this is at times very hard to do. To appreciate the simple moments and beauty and joy that surround us every day. Even in the upsets and turmoil we often find ourselves embroiled in without our consent, being able to appreciate those times as well and understanding their impermanence as well. This too shall pass, and when it does, did I learn anything, or am I just apprehensive, waiting for the other shoe to drop? Can I take the good with the bad and understand it’s nothing personal? The world doesn’t hate me. Can I find tranquility in knowing no matter how dire my circumstance, someone, somewhere is going through something similar or worse and that in my simple acceptance of what is, rather what I wish it to be is just as valid as finding joy in a baby’s laughter or smile.

I’m fond of saying these days, the one thing I have plenty of is time. Though I know it isn’t true. The sand in the hourglass seems to be gaining speed. If I can be mindful, even in the chaos daily life can bring, especially in these days that everything seems so disposable. Everyone’s worried about the newest version of whatever, phones, cars and I’m over here missing my grandfather’s baseball glove that was new in 1919. I suppose I spend more time looking back because at some level I know I’m mindful that there isn’t as much ahead anymore.

That’s okay, I only need be fully present in the here and now. That’s really all any of us have.