Work and mindfulness

.                                                                             Photo: Harish Davda

                                                                      My attempt to create a mindful environment in my work space.

                                        Photo of a multimedia painting by Clemencia Davda, Skye based artist. - an exercise in mindfulness.

Our choice of work is very important

Gautama Buddha called it the ‘right’ livelihood. 

If we are happy with our work it flows

like a river on a beautiful day.

It makes us feel mindful, calm and contented. 

We don’t need to spend years to learn to be mindful.

If we are aware of our breathing, we are mindful,

we have to keep this awareness continually.

Doing work and tackling problems mindfully 

reduces our stress level. The only stress then is healthy tiredness. 

We don’t even need to be in control when we make the work tasks flow.

The control is replaced with feelings of joy,

that of completing tasks with best intentions. 

Recently I saw two examples of mindful work practice: 

First, a plumber identified a problem in our house in a few minutes and solved 

it with a new part. 

I told him that he was like a magician. He moved his body mindfully. 

The best part of his work was cleaning up the bathroom with a smile reflecting satisfaction. 

Second, a painter and decorator, who I know well, told me that his body directed his fingers in a certain direction. This helped him to learn a new and easier technique of paining skirting boards.

This shows that mindfulness and the flow of work, through our body go together.

When we are mindful, our work is an extension of ourselves. 

Our creativity is at a high level. Work then becomes effortless.

Eventually, everything we do is in line with our purpose. 

Then what we do emerges from our state of being, not stressful goals.

(c) Harish Davda 2023

Harish Davda works as an Enneagram and Conscious Business Coach and Trainer. He also leads a an online Meditation Group. He can be contacted via email:

harish.davda@gmail.com

Facebook and Instagram: @harishdavdacoach

Isle of Skye, The Misty Isle - A personal Diary

If you live on Isle of Skye, and you like photography, you'll be spoilt for choice. The following are my favourite places I visited recently. Enjoy the images!

The Misty Isle

The image and atmosphere of the Misty Isle is noticed and felt in many places. One of my favourite places is Quiraing in Trotternish, an icon of Scotland. It is an amazing paradise of mindfulness. You just observe and sense the presence of the area!

A ruin near Kilwaxter, Uig, on the way to Camus More beach

I did some research but couldn’t find any information. I stopped by this amazing ruin recently and took some shots. The history of Skye grabbed me and I started to wonder what the life was like on Skye, a long time ago, and who lived there.

Uig Bay and Harbour

This is my favourite place. A gateway to the amazing Outer Hebrides to the islands of Harris, Lewes and Uist. Full of history, for example,

“It was of course just north of Uig that Bonny Prince Charlie landed in the well known “Over the sea to Skye” song. He and Flora MacDonald landed just north of Monkstadt House in Kilmuir. As there were soldiers (Redcoats) at Monkstadt House at the time looking for him, he was led by MacDonald of Kingsburgh from there down through Uig to Kingsburgh House where he spent the night.

Flora MacDonald herself died in her house at Peighinn an Duin, just to the south of Earlish, and is buried at Kilmuir just to the north of Uig. This is the Flora MacDonald memorial.” 

Source: http://www.uigisleofskye.co.uk/history

Kilt Rock

I love waterfalls! Kilt Rock is very special. Every time I go there, my imagination goes wild! This is the area where dinosaurs used to jump about millions of years ago!

Rha Falls

A hidden wonder in Uig. Amazing colours and energy, perhaps because of negative ions from the falling water. I have been there few times and it has always been quiet. Perhaps not many people know about this hidden gem. A great experience in mindfulness!

The Cullins

The first time I came to Skye, I kept seeing the mountains and rainbows. Every time I pass by the Cullins, I remember how special Skye is for me and my family.

Finally...

Scotland is about layering. The weather changes every 10 minutes. - Sam Heughan

Wherever I wander, wherever I rove; the hills of the highland for ever I love.

- Robert Burns

(c) Harish Davda 2020

Some insights into meditation

Photo (c) Harish Davda

Photo (c) Harish Davda

Meditation is not about blocking the mind

or controlling thoughts. You can't.

It is not tied to any religion although in many 

spiritual traditions there has always been something 

like meditation or similar so that those following the

spiritual path can go deep within themselves and 'be 

touch with themselves.'

Meditation is not time consuming. Anything from
5 to 20 minutes, twice a day, everyday, is sufficient. 
Later on, when you begin to get into it, you will know 
how much time to spend. The main thing is that you 
follow the technique properly.

So, what is meditation? It is finding a quiet time
for yourself, preferably in the same place, away 
from any disturbance or distraction such as your 
smart phone.

Sit with a straight back, with not too much tension, 
on a chair or on Zafu (meditation cushion).

Close your eyes, take few deep breaths. Then 
concentrate on your breathing. Then just 'be'. 
If thoughts come, don't dwell on them 
(challenging in the beginning),  gently go back to 
breathing, count from one to five. Carry on for 5 to 
20 minutes. Then open your eyes. Use a gentle 
sound with the help of a timer to remind you when the
time is up. You can download an app. there are many 
to choose from. I use 'Insight timer' app which also 
has various guided meditations of various lengths; 
the basic version is free! What I have just described 
is 'mindful meditation'. It's a good way of starting to 
learn to meditate. There are other types of meditation 
as well. Keep an eye on my future blogs!

So, what are the benefits of meditation? By going 
into your inner world where your mind is least active, 
after meditation, when you come back into the outer 
world, you will gradually begin to notice some of the 
following: 
You will be relaxed and peaceful, you will

probably become deeper and begin to see some of the 
things, for example your behaviour and other people's 
behaviour clearly. You will begin to judge other people 
and events less. This will not happen overnight but 
after some serious, regular practice. You may also 

sleep better.

Sometimes negative emotions may arise during your 
meditation. By accepting these emotions, you will 
learn about its source. You will know how to deal
with them when you come back to your outer world. 
This will help you to grow. More on this in another
blog.

Drop me a line and let me know how you are getting
on with your meditation.

See my video on this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YojdUKEVuVA


I love this quotation by Thich Nhat Hanh:

Photo credit: Instagram @thichnhathanhquotecollective

(c) Harish Davda - 2020
Enneagram and Conscious Business Coach/Consultant/Trainer
harish.davda@gmail.com
Instagram: @harish.davda

This or that: duality or breaking into freedom?

On a cloudy and rainy day.

Calmness after the storm.

Late afternoon.

On a sunny day, nearly.

Look at the above photos taken on different days, in different weather conditions. Photography students and those interested in photography will go to town in analysing the photos and select the best one. This will be justified if it was part of their assignment and they were learning photography skills.

In our day-to-day life, we are hard wired to judge, mostly through our mind. The hard wiring has happened in the past. So, many of our judgements, assessments, and preferences are based in the past. And, through the judgements, we go into the future. No wonder we often feel powerless. The 'outer' world does not serve us much. We often remain unsatisfied, disappointed, and lacking in freedom. Welcome to the world of duality!

So, what is non-dualistic thinking or awareness?  See the explanation below:

Source: http://www.zenthinking.net

How do we get there? Well, I don't have many answers, except that we need to be in the present, in the now. I'm still scratching the surface. Being mindful, experiencing our presence, is a good start. This is the reflection of our 'inner' world. Regular practice of mindfulness and meditation is a good start to release ourselves of the past and our judgemental character. 

In the now, we experience our presence powerfully. There are infinite possibilities which we are able to see. The past is dissolved. We feel free. In this state, positive thoughts will unwire our brain of past negative thinking, even trauma. We begin to live. We begin to create happiness for ourselves and all around us. 

My deep namaste!

(c) Harish Davda 2020

Insta: @harish.davda

harish.davda@gmail.com