The students watched on, as the play unfolded before them. A teacher was trying to teach a new student about Mindfulness. “Now pick up the glass of wine and bring it to your lips.” The student did so and drank the wine down in one huge gulp. “NO, NO, you must savor the wine, let its delicate bouquet entice your senses before tasting!” The student looked puzzled as the teacher poured another cup. “Now, being mindful is to savor every moment of each event. In this case, you are sampling the wine.”
The student looked at the wine with desire, liking his lips he waited for the teacher’s command. “Okay, again, pick up the cup and let the bouquet entice your nostrils before letting the wine touch your lips. Revel in the aroma and color of the wine. The student did so, putting the cup up to his face, giving a little sniff before again, downing the wine in one gulp. “ARRRGGGG!” the teacher yelled. “YOU ARE NOT GETTING IT! YOU WILL NEVER LEARN MINDFULNESS WITH SUCH WICKED BEHAVIORS!!!”
The play was stopped. The leader of the workshop stood and watched the expressions of the class before asking a question. “Who had Mindfulness in this exercise and who did not?” he asked. All of the students, save one, raised their hands and stated the teacher who was attempting to teach this young fool how to practice the art of Mindfulness. One student did not raise his hand. The teacher asked him why he did not raise his.
“Master, I believe the teacher lost his place in Mindfulness when he tried to follow his initial plan of teaching someone how to savor the wine as he would. He became angry when the student did not act in the way he wanted. In reality, I believe the student was practicing Mindfulness as he was thoroughly enjoying the wine in his own unique style. If the master took this into account, he may have gently coached the student in a deeper experience of tasting the wine. The master smiled and bowed to his student.
The Journey of a thousand miles 