A Zennist Routine

We live in Indonesia, but my routine has resembled this in many ways for decades, adapting as needed to the conditions of the environment and living situation. I wake up slowly, giving vivid dreams of the night a chance to resolve and disappear.

Once on my feet, the next thing is to feed the birds cracked corn and seeds. Mourning doves and Sooty-head Bulbuls are waiting for me on the house across the street and on the wires crossing the street. As the birds dive down for breakfast, I spray our plants and trees with a bio enzyme, saying good morning to my “forty friends” as I call them. The sentience of all life is a strong interest, and I see the results in amazing ways in relation to our plants.

Next, I go to my office (I am a global online coach and teacher) and sit in a special chair I have had for decades and listen to the Zen Teisho. I download all the programs and have them on my phone. Every six months or so I add the new ones. I listen to one a day and when they are all done, I start at the top again. Of course, they never get old. I listen with my phone and blue tooth ear buds which offer excellent sound quality.

If you have listened to the Teisho you know that the reader is gifted both in voice and pronunciation. The commentary following the main text clarifies and encourages our practice. Either before listening to the Teisho or right after, I practice Tai Chi, the twenty-four movements. I sometimes vary that with Qi Gong exercises. I have light weights which I also use.

After that, I have breakfast and go to my studio to paint for two hours and then to the gym where I swim laps and do some drawings of the swimmers.

The rest of the day is about studying, reading, and teaching. Most of my classes are in the evening. The last thing I do, probably not the best (so what!) is watch an episode of a tv series. There are some great ones.

But before sleep, I always read either the Dhammapada, The Bible, Zen poetry, or, now, the current book titled The Light Eaters about the aforementioned sentience of plants. It is a terrific book, now on the best seller list at the NY Times.

Zen study helps support my peaceful routine. Possibly, it could be called Zen practice. I don’t think about that much. What I do think about is “Being Peace” as Thich Nhat Hanh suggested. It just feels good.

Ricker W