Day 33 - Beginner's Mind

Today's Tarka Practice
In celebration of the new moon on Sunday this week's theme is about beginnings.

In both the Zen Buddhist tradition and within Hindu philosophy there is a practice known as "Beginner's Mind". This practice focuses on the idea that when we begin something for the first time, we are open, vulnerable, and flexible. Because we don't know what to expect when we try something new, we have not yet created a wall, we have not yet made associations, we have not yet come to expect something specific to happen and so our minds remain open and free. In these traditions, we are asked to remain in this state of consciousness throughout the practice, and we are asked to remain in this state of consciousness in our lives - open, free, unencumbered. When we are in this state of mind, we can see the possibilities for our lives, we experience hope and joy and we can look at the world through fresh eyes.

Today, I want you to spend the entire day looking at everything as if you have never seen it before and as if you have never experienced it before. Try to look at the day through fresh eyes, look at the people you know through fresh eyes and see their beauty. At the end of the day or perhaps the next morning, write down what you experienced. How did this shift in your consciousness to beginner's mind change your everyday experience?

Shanti

Day 34 - It's A New Day

Today's Tarka Practice
The great thing about waking up every morning is that you get to start all over again. Any feelings from a previous day can be set aside and you have the chance to have a better day than the day before. If you made some mistakes you wish you hadn't made, if you had a bad day or wish you had responded differently to a friend or family member, you have the opportunity to do that today, right now, in this moment.

The beauty of being able to begin again is that you can change your thoughts, your attitude, and your life. Even if yesterday did not go as planned, you get a fresh start today. Let go of yesterday and focus on the day you wish to create today.

For today's tarka, take a piece of paper and tear it into small pieces. Write the disappointments of yesterday on these small pieces of paper. Fill a bowl with water and place the pieces of paper in the water. Watch the ink fade from the paper. As the ink fades, let go of all of those disappointments.

Go back to your journal and design your day. Write down how you would like your day to look today. If you were creating your ideal day, what would it be?

Shanti