禅意生活十二则
Thich Nhat Hanh说：“每时每刻我们都有比已经实现的可能有更多的可能。” 我不是一个禅宗和尚，也不想成为他们中的一个。但是，我对他们的生活方式有了很大的灵感：简单的生活；对每件活动的集中和关注；发现生活中的平静、祥和。
你可能也不想成为一个禅宗和尚，但是你的生活方式可能很像是禅宗和尚的，因为你也遵从了一下几条简单法则。
为什么活得像一个禅宗和尚？因为我们中的哪个人在生活中没有或多或少的曾经集中注意力，静思，聚神？因为千百年来，禅宗和尚致力于他们所做的每一件事，意志坚定，服务他人。这已经成为我们生活的典范，是否达到那种境界已经不是问题的关键。
我最喜欢的禅宗和尚之一Thich Nhat Hanh用几个词语简述这些法则：“微笑，呼吸，以及慢慢地行走” 没有什么比这个能描述地更好了。
然而，为了给那些想要知道更多细节的人来说，我想分享一些在实验中我发现如何用禅宗样的生活方式来更好的工作，即——“如何禅意地生活”。我不是一个禅宗大师，甚至连一个禅宗和尚都不是。但是我已经发现有一些固定的原则可以适应任何生活方式，不论你的宗教信仰或者你的生活水平如何。
Shunryu Suzuki 说：“禅不是一种激情，它是对我们普通日常生活的关注”。
1. 一次只做一件事情。长期拥有禅宗习惯的读者对这一条法则（以及后面要提到的其他法则）将会很熟悉。它是我人生哲学的一部分，也是禅宗和尚生活的一部分：一次只做一件，不做多件任务。当你在倒水的时候，就只倒水；当你吃东西的时候，就只吃东西；当你洗澡的时候，就只洗澡。不要企图在吃饭或洗澡的时候完成一些其他的任 务。禅宗的谚语说道：“走的时候光走，吃的时候光吃”。
2.慢慢的谨慎的做事。你可以一次做一件事情，但是也可以匆匆了事。相反地，利用你的时间，慢慢的去做。使你的行动谨慎而不是匆忙莽撞。这需要实践，但是却帮助你把精力集中到任务上。
3.把事情做完。把你的精力完全的放 到工作上。在完成一件任务之前不要去做下一件。假如由于某种原因，你不得不去做其他的事情，那么至少试着把这件没有完成的任务放在一边，并在事后处理好它。如果你要做一个三明治，不要吃它，直到你把做时候的准备材料收拾好了，把桌子擦干净了，把做时候的碟碗洗好了。然后你处理好了这件事情可以更好的集中精力做下一件事情了。
4.少做事。一个禅宗和尚的生活不是懒惰的：他很早起床，整天都被事情填满着。然而，他也不会有没有尽头的工作任务—他当天要做的事是固定的，再没有其他的了。假如少做些，就可以更慢，更彻底，更集中精力的去做这些事情；假如一天工作塞得满满的，就会从一件事冲到下一件事，而不考虑自己在干些什么。
5.和“做少事”法则相关，但是这一条是一种控制计划的方式，以便总有时间完成每一件任务。不要把事情都堆到一起---相反，要在计划中给每两件事情之间留出空间。这会是一种更宽松的计划，留出空间以防完成任务的时间按比计划的要长。
6.发展礼仪。禅宗和尚做的许多事情从吃饭到洗刷到冥想都有礼仪。礼仪能给人一种重要感，假如事情的重要度足以有礼仪，那么它也足以吸取你全部注意力，并且慢慢的准确的去完成。没有必要去学习禅宗和尚的礼仪———可以创造适合自己的，做饭的，吃饭的，洗刷的，开工前的，醒来时的，睡觉前的，运动前的。总之是你想做的任何事情。
7.特定的时间做特定的事情。禅宗和尚在一天特定的时间里做特定的事情。有洗澡的时间，工作的时间，洗刷的时间，吃饭的时间。你可以为自己的活动设定时间，不管是工作的、洗刷的、运动的、或者沉思的。如果事情很重要需要经常做，考虑为其设定一个时间。
8.致力于静坐。在禅宗和尚的一生中，静坐冥想是一天中最重要的事情之一。每天都有特定的时间用来静坐沉思。沉思是学习立于现世的一种习俗。你可以致力于静坐沉思或者做一些我做的事情：我习惯于用跑步以此作为一种存在于当前的一种方式。你可以用同样的方式做你想做的任何事情，只要你有准备的去做并且练习存在于当下。
9.微笑并服务他人。禅宗和尚一生中一部分时间是用来服务他人的，不管这些人是庙宇中的其他和尚还是外界的其他人。这教给了他们谦逊，并且确保他们的生命不是自私的而是奉献给他人的。如果你是身为人母人父，你很可能至少已经将一部分时间用来服务家里的其他人了，没有做父母的也可能这样做了。相似的是，微笑和善待他人是改善周围人生活质量的一种伟大的方式。同样的是自愿加入到慈善事业中来，“不以善小而不为”，一个微笑可以点亮另一个人的一天，也可以点亮你自己的。
10.使洗刷和做饭也变成沉思。除了上面提到的静坐沉思以外，做饭洗刷也是禅宗和尚一天中很值得赞善的部分之一。这都是练习沉思的伟大方式，是每天要做的伟大礼仪。如果做饭洗刷像是无聊的事情，尝试着用一种沉思的形式去做它们。把你全部的精力都放到这些事情上，集中精力，慢慢的去做，做的彻底些。这会改变你一天的状况，也会给你留下一个干净的房间。
11.考虑一下什么是必要的。在禅宗和尚的一生中没有多少事情是没有必要的。他的厨子里没有装满鞋子或者最新流行的衣服；他没有塞满垃圾食品的冰箱橱柜；他没有最新出的小玩意，小轿车，电视机，或者iPod播放机。他只有最基本的衣服，避所，器具，工具，以及最基本的食物（他们吃喝都很简单，通常是大米，汤水，茶，蔬菜，豆腐，腌咸菜等的素食）。现在，我不是说应该完全像和尚那样生活，我当然不是那个意思。但是，这的确提醒了我们生活中有很多是没有必要的，要是能思考一下我们到底需要什么以及我们拥有这些没必要的东西是否很重要将会是很有益处的。
12.简单地生活。第十一条法则的结论是如果有些事情是没必要的那么你可以抛弃它。因此，简单生活就是尽可能的把没必要不重要的东西事情抛开，为必要的事情腾出空间来。现在看来，必要的东西是因人而异的。对我来说，家庭，写作，跑步以及读书是必要的；对其他人来说，瑜伽，和密友聊天可能是必要的；对有的人来说，看孩子，做志愿者，去教堂，手机连环画图书可能是必要的。没有什么法则规定什么对你是必要的---但是你应该考虑什么是生活里最重要的，并且去除掉生命中其他没有用的事情腾出空间来做那些重要的事情。
沉思之前砍柴挑水，沉思之后砍柴挑水”吴力说。
12 Essential Rules to Live More Like a Zen Monk
“We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
I’m not a Zen monk, nor will I ever become one. However, I find great inspiration in the way they try to live their lives: the simplicity of their lives, the concentration and mindfulness of every activity, the calm and peace they find in their days.
You probably don’t want to become a Zen monk either, but you can live your life in a more Zen-like manner by following a few simple rules.
Why live more like a Zen monk? Because who among us can’t use a little more concentration, tranquility, and mindfulness in our lives? Because Zen monks for hundreds of years have devoted their lives to being present in everything they do, to being dedicated and to serving others. Because it serves as an example for our lives, and whether we ever really reach that ideal is not the point.
One of my favorite Zen monks, Thich Nhat Hanh, simplified the rules in just a few words: “Smile, breathe and go slowly.” It doesn’t get any better than that. However, for those who would like a little more detail, I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve discovered to work very well in my experiments with Zen-like living. I am no Zen master … I am not even a Zen Buddhist. However, I’ve found that there are certain principles that can be applied to any life, no matter what your religious beliefs or what your standard of living.
“Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.” - Shunryu Suzuki
1. Do one thing at a time. This rule (and some of the others that follow) will be familiar to long-time Zen Habits readers. It’s part of my philosophy, and it’s also a part of the life of a Zen monk: single-task, don’t multi-task. When you’re pouring water, just pour water. When you’re eating, just eat. When you’re bathing, just bathe. Don’t try to knock off a few tasks while eating or bathing. Zen proverb: “When walking, walk. When eating, eat.”
2. Do it slowly and deliberately. You can do one task at a time, but also rush that task. Instead, take your time, and move slowly. Make your actions deliberate, not rushed and random. It takes practice, but it helps you focus on the task.
3. Do it completely. Put your mind completely on the task. Don’t move on to the next task until you’re finished. If, for some reason, you have no choice but to move on to something else, try to at least put away the unfinished task and clean up after yourself. If you prepare a sandwich, don’t start eating it until you’ve put away the stuff you used to prepare it, wiped down the counter, and washed the dishes used for preparation. Then you’re done with that task, and can focus more completely on the next task.
4. Do less. A Zen monk doesn’t lead a lazy life: he wakes early and has a day filled with work. However, he doesn’t have an unending task list either — there are certain things he’s going to do today, an no more. If you do less, you can do those things more slowly, more completely and with more concentration. If you fill your day with tasks, you will be rushing from one thing to the next without stopping to think about what you do.
5. Put space between things. Related to the “Do less” rule, but it’s a way of managing your schedule so that you always have time to complete each task. Don’t schedule things close together — instead, leave room between things on your schedule. That gives you a more relaxed schedule, and leaves space in case one task takes longer than you planned.
6. Develop rituals. Zen monks have rituals for many things they do, from eating to cleaning to meditation. Ritual gives something a sense of importance — if it’s important enough to have a ritual, it’s important enough to be given your entire attention, and to be done slowly and correctly. You don’t have to learn the Zen monk rituals — you can create your own, for the preparation of food, for eating, for cleaning, for what you do before you start your work, for what you do when you wake up and before you go to bed, for what you do just before exercise. Anything you want, really.
7. Designate time for certain things. There are certain times in the day of a Zen monk designated for certain activities. A time for for bathing, a time for work, a time for cleaning, a time for eating. This ensures that those things get done regularly. You can designate time for your own activities, whether that be work or cleaning or exercise or quiet contemplation. If it’s important enough to do regularly, consider designating a time for it.
8. Devote time to sitting. In the life of a Zen monk, sitting meditation (zazen) is one of the most important parts of his day. Each day, there is time designated just for sitting. This meditation is really practice for learning to be present. You can devote time for sitting meditation, or do what I do: I use running as a way to practice being in the moment. You could use any activity in the same way, as long as you do it regularly and practice being present.
9. Smile and serve others. Zen monks spend part of their day in service to others, whether that be other monks in the monastery or people on the outside world. It teaches them humility, and ensures that their lives are not just selfish, but devoted to others. If you’re a parent, it’s likely you already spend at least some time in service to others in your household, and non-parents may already do this too. Similarly, smiling and being kind to others can be a great way to improve the lives of those around you. Also consider volunteering for charity work.
10. Make cleaning and cooking become meditation.
Aside from the zazen mentioned above, cooking and cleaning are to of the most exalted parts of a Zen monk’s day. They are both great ways to practice mindfulness, and can be great rituals performed each day. If cooking and cleaning seem like boring chores to you, try doing them as a form of meditation. Put your entire mind into those tasks, concentrate, and do them slowly and completely. It could change your entire day (as well as leave you with a cleaner house).
11. Think about what is necessary.
There is little in a Zen monk’s life that isn’t necessary. He doesn’t have a closet full of shoes, or the latest in trendy clothes. He doesn’t have a refrigerator and cabinets full of junk food. He doesn’t have the latest gadgets, cars, televisions, or iPod. He has basic clothing, basic shelter, basic utensils, basic tools, and the most basic food (they eat simple, vegetarian meals consisting usually of rice, miso soup, tea, vegetables, and pickled vegetables). Now, I’m not saying you should live exactly like a Zen monk — I certainly don’t. But it does serve as a reminder that there is much in our lives that aren’t necessary, and it can be useful to give some thought about what we really need, and whether it is important to have all the stuff we have that’s not necessary.
12. Live simply.
The corollary of Rule 11 is that if something isn’t necessary, you can probably live without it. And so to live simply is to rid your life of as many of the unnecessary and unessential things as you can, to make room for the essential. Now, what is essential will be different to each person. For me, my family, my writing, my running and my reading are essential. To others, yoga and spending time with close friends might be essential. For others it will be nursing and volunteering and going to church and collecting comic books. There is no law saying what should be essential for you — but you should consider what is most important to your life, and make room for that by eliminating the other less essential things in your life.
“Before enlightenment chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.” - Wu Li
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