I recently began a Sensory Awareness class with two questions to the group:
“How many people here realize that you are going to die?”
“How many people let this influence how you live?”
These questions seem so basic and fundamental to me, and they are at the heart of Sensory Awareness practice. Each moment matters. The quality of our presence matters. When we are present and connected, we can respond with more clarity and freedom.
Sensory Awareness is the foundation I rely on. Returning to my senses, I cannot help but be present. I can only be in touch with my sensations in the present moment. The allies of our sensations are tangible and constant. When I feel overwhelmed, sad or triggered by something, I know that I can pause and let breathing find me. I can connect with breath and my physical sensations, and become more in touch with what is happening and what is needed.
The older I get, the more clear I become that I don’t want to waste time. I want to use my time and energy where I feel best used, and most alive. Two questions that guide me in what I say “Yes” to and what I say “No” to are:
- What brings me most alive?
- Where do I feel most well-used?
The answers to both questions need to be in alignment, not just one or the other.
Yvonne Rand, a Zen teacher, who was a mentor for me in my early days at Zen Center shared a daily practice that guided her choices. At the end of each day she would reflect on any regrets she had from the day and she would work to address them. She was focused on living in such a way that when she came to the end of her life, she could die without regret. As she made choices during her daily activities, she would pause and connect with this guiding statement: “I want to live and die without regret.” She would allow the time to feel with what was most important to her, and let go of choices that would lead to regret.
