I wanted to share a practice that I’ve been doing for a while with you. Practicing “10% Slower.” This is sort of a re-branded version of one of the most basic Dharma practices there is. That is, being present for what you are physically doing. (First foundation of Mindfulness: Changing Postures) As is often the case, the most basic teachings, when followed through fully and diligently, can have a very positive impact on our practice and our happiness.
I like the title because it mirrors the Ten Percent Happier meditation website and app. But more importantly, in terms of supporting present moment awareness of one’s movements, going just 10% slower is enough to bring the mind clearly into contact with what one is doing. We could substitute “not rushing” for 10% slower and have it mean and produce the same thing. That is, we remember (Sati) not to rush, and/or to go just a bit slower.
Is slowing down somehow more spiritual or more wholesome? In and of itself, no. What is of importance is what may arise in the mind when we are moving either more quickly or more slowly. We tend to move faster than necessary in response to thoughts and mind states that tell us, “I have too much to do, and there’s not enough time.” This faster movement is a product of the mind states, and when not noticed, the movement feeds the mind states, keeping them going, and even strengthening them. With mindfulness, we can to make a conscious choice to move no faster than necessary or to even slow down just a bit. Mindfulness is being strengthened in that moment. The mind receives wordless messages that there is enough time, and that physical, emotional and psychological ease is available. This is not an idea. We actually experience it.
For me, when I move 10% slower, there is a palpable sense of greater well-being. The actions I am taking shift from the mundane to the sacred. Opening the computer deliberately/slowly is an exercise in mindfulness and refuge. It is the opposite of an unconscious movement in the service of getting to the next thing. We can feel as though we are flowing through life, as opposed to skittering along in fragmented bursts of activity. Not only is this a more enjoyable option for moving through our lives, but when the heart/mind is resting back and not lurching forward, the ground is fertile for knowing things as they are.