YEAR OF ZEN: SUMMER: DAY 45

The Beaneater - Annibale Carracci

Q: When we’re full of the last meal, the prior insight, we have no room for what arrives. Do you need to prepare yourself for this?

A: Yes, a key part of mindfulness to me is keeping myself open and ready to receive the next insight and lesson. Sometimes insight comes at a rapid clip and it feels like a lot of ground has been gained quickly. But often some of my most important insights have come when I have been my most tired, my most beaten, my most broken feeling. Times when I didn’t feel like I had the will to prepare myself and cultivate readiness, but action happened anyway.