Rushing
We have bigger houses but smaller families; more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees, but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgement;
more experts, but more problems; more medicines, but less healthiness.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but we have trouble crossing
the street to meet the new neighbour.
We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than
ever, but have less communication.
We have become long on quantity but short on quality.
These are times of fast foods but slow digestion; tall man but short
character; steep profits but shallow relationships.
It’s a time when there is much in the window, but nothing in the room.
(Dalai Lama)
Conflict
Instead of undertaking a single activity - and keeping our minds on that -
we undertake multiple enterprises simultaneously.
Having more than one concern, we are divided.
Our mind must prioritise.
There is an internal conflict between what we are doing, and other pressing
concerns.
Multi-tasking
Multi-tasking is the apparent simultaneous performance of two
or more tasks by a computer's central processing unit.
In other words, the computer seems to be doing two things at once.
Yet, the computer is not really performing two task at
the same time. It is switching resources back and forth at high speed.
But can a person do two things at the same time?
Perhaps. But not well.
As with a computer, the more sophisticated and challenging the separate
requirements are, the more difficult it becomes to do any of the activities
competently.
A computer might hang, or crash.
A human forgets things, makes mistakes, becomes stressed. The pressure
increases. They rush. They
hurry.
Choices & confusion
People think of choosing
as being about freedom.
But is it?
Choosing is only necessary when there is confusion. When the course is
clear, you act unflinchingly.
When confused, you must choose.
The problem with choosing is that a confused mind by its very condition is
not capable of choosing well.
If you possessed clarity,
you would see.
No choice would be needed.
Mistakes
When people are not present, they are required to choose between different
concerns.
In their confusion, they dither.
Time and attention is divided between activities.
The mind is not present and calm.
Deterioration occurs. Sloppiness creeps in. The quality diminishes.
Carelessness is unavoidable.
What is rushing?
Rushing is like juggling. If you focus on one ball, the others will fall
from the air.
You must spread your energy between multiple concerns, and keep them all
from falling.
This is not very healthy.
Remedy
To remedy rushing, to break the habit, you must be aware of the immediate
moment.
Rushing is merely a habit.
What was formed can also be lost.
Guided relaxation
Meditation exercises such as listening to the breath and being aware of the
here and now can assist you in reducing your concerns from the many to the
one.
When you move past this point, you become present, and whole.
Tai chi
Tai chi form is long, and requires a significant degree of concentration
and physical awareness.
If you are not present, aware and feeling, you will perform it badly.
Cultivating one-pointedness will actively strengthen your mind, encourage
patience and composure.
Most of the tai chi exercises in our syllabus were designed to enhance
presence.
Great care
In order to avoid the mishaps caused by your habit of rushing, you must
perform your activities with great care.
Be slow, methodical and thorough.
Make sure that you do them properly.
Double-check your actions in order to quality check their substance.
Be prepared to start from scratch (if necessary) and do better the second
time around.
Stop
Learning how to stop is vital. You cannot relax until you stop doing.
Relaxing enables presence. You see, rather than look.
Coming to a standstill allows your body to stop, to rest. Your mind may also
slow down and become aware of what is happening right now.
Your mind is on where you are. It is not extrapolating, planning, worrying,
anxious. It is still and alert.
Diet, television, computers, video games, caffeine and recreational drugs
(including cigarettes) can prevent you from stopping.
But until you stop, you cannot break the cycle of rushing.
Cease asking "What's next?" and be here. Now.
Page created 12 January 1999