“Instead of having some object of worship, we just concentrate on the activity which we do in each moment,” Suzuki wrote. “When you bow, you should just bow; when you sit, you should just sit; when you eat, you should just eat.”
When we aren’t present in the moment, our true nature cannot fully express itself. Conversely, when we are doing an activity with heart and focus, we start to express our true selves. But it’s easier said than done. How often are we not in the moment?
- Jumping between tasks in a browser
- Checking our phones while doing other things throughout the day
- Rushing to do the next thing while still doing the current thing
- Thinking about other things when someone is talking to us
- Irritated by someone when they interrupt whatever we’re doing
- Taking whatever we’re doing for granted, because it’s dull or routine
How to Do One Thing at a Time
Set an intention. When you start an activity, turn to it with your full attention and set the intention to be present with the act—to do nothing else but this activity. You might think “Just walk,” or “Just read,” or “Just drink tea.”As we give each activity our full, loving attention, we start to appreciate each person, each object, and each thing around us as being something worthy of respect, love, and gratitude. We start to take up the opportunity to fully engage with life—with a smile and a bow.
