H's
I was thinking this morning that the three h's of my humanist practice are holistic, healthy and happy. I know, I often wince when I open a Youtube video and it starts like this, but bear with me.
In order to bring mindfulness into action in the moment, I have developed these filters for my decision-making processes. How am I to be in this particular moment? How am I to act in this particular situation? How am I to interact in this momentary relationship? How is my relationship with myself right now?
I use the word holistic to describe my application of sciences, technologies and analysis (logic) in the moment. Is my process multidimensional, multifaceted? Am I basing my decision or action on the rational and intentional use of one or more scientific, logical premise(s)? Am I considering my biological, psychological, sociological, economic realities and capabilities? If not, where should I go to get more information before I react or decide on anything in the situation. Do I need to say simply, "I don't know yet." and do nothing?
I use the word healthy in a fairly conventional sense, but including health to mean physical, psychological, sexual and social health, sometimes all at once in a particular situation. Am I acting in a way that promotes my own health, not just sustains the health I have now? Am I conscious of the implications my decisions/actions may have on the health promotion of others? Am I maintaining an awareness in every moment of what is healthy for me, my companions and my environment?
Finally, the happy in my practice is based on a concept of the deep joy of liberation. Are my thoughts and actions taking me toward detachment from greed and possessiveness? Are my thoughts and actions less about control and more about generosity? Am I at peace with my own truthfulness and openness with myself and others? Do I bring an awareness of my own mortality and freedom from attachment to my own desires into my relationships?
As you may be thinking, this is very hard work. I have never maintained that having a serious daily practice is easy. I would also be a fool to think myself anything other than a bumbling novice at it. It is the quest, the journey of practice that is its own reward. It is the intense liveliness of the relationship with my own mind that refreshes me, even when I wonder if I can continue trying.
In order to bring mindfulness into action in the moment, I have developed these filters for my decision-making processes. How am I to be in this particular moment? How am I to act in this particular situation? How am I to interact in this momentary relationship? How is my relationship with myself right now?I use the word holistic to describe my application of sciences, technologies and analysis (logic) in the moment. Is my process multidimensional, multifaceted? Am I basing my decision or action on the rational and intentional use of one or more scientific, logical premise(s)? Am I considering my biological, psychological, sociological, economic realities and capabilities? If not, where should I go to get more information before I react or decide on anything in the situation. Do I need to say simply, "I don't know yet." and do nothing?
I use the word healthy in a fairly conventional sense, but including health to mean physical, psychological, sexual and social health, sometimes all at once in a particular situation. Am I acting in a way that promotes my own health, not just sustains the health I have now? Am I conscious of the implications my decisions/actions may have on the health promotion of others? Am I maintaining an awareness in every moment of what is healthy for me, my companions and my environment?
Finally, the happy in my practice is based on a concept of the deep joy of liberation. Are my thoughts and actions taking me toward detachment from greed and possessiveness? Are my thoughts and actions less about control and more about generosity? Am I at peace with my own truthfulness and openness with myself and others? Do I bring an awareness of my own mortality and freedom from attachment to my own desires into my relationships?
As you may be thinking, this is very hard work. I have never maintained that having a serious daily practice is easy. I would also be a fool to think myself anything other than a bumbling novice at it. It is the quest, the journey of practice that is its own reward. It is the intense liveliness of the relationship with my own mind that refreshes me, even when I wonder if I can continue trying.
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