Tuesday, July 10, 2012


A family recipe for mindful tea.
This summer at a family reunion with 15 guests in our house--that brought all the laughter and chaos one could imagine--I received a recipe for mindfulness.
The mindfulness I am referring to has been defined by Thich Nhat Hanh as being “truly alive, present and at one with those around you and with what you are doing.”  
I got to experience mindful action by three Indian brothers in their 70’s, 60’s, and 50’s who were visiting us. 
In the still of the early morning, when most guests were asleep, I witnessed a morning ritual that was the epitome of mindfulness. 
On successive mornings, each of the brothers (my father in law and his two younger siblings), would take turns preparing morning bed tea for each other.  The recipe and procedure has been passed down since their childhood.
This was a still and precise event.  Although repeated many times through their lives, it was performed as it was done for the first time.
Step by step, the family algorithm was followed.  Each step was tested with affectionate curiosity and the mind of a beginner.
 At the end of the tea preparation, the three brothers in their pajamas would sit on our deck and ceremoniously drink the tea that each other had lovingly prepared for the group.
The Bahl family bed tea algorithm was shared with me and now I share it with you.
1.       Heat water in electric kettle
2.       Add hot water to tea pot to warm it up.
3.       Pour water in cups to warm them up
4.       Three teaspoons of Darjeeling tea. Loose, premium quality
5.       Two bags of Lipton yellow label tea
6.       Fill pot with boiling water. Approx. 6 cups
7.       Cover with tea cozy (2 minutes)
8.       Heat milk in microwave. 
9.       Quarter teaspoon into the tea
10.   Pour the tea through a strainer (add sugar before, milk afterwards as needed)
11.   Makes approx. five cups.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Travelling the Mindfulness Path




As I was heading out the door my wife reminded me to make sure to wear my helmet while I biked to work.   In preparation, I took my bike out of the garage and placed my helmet on the back rack.  Prior to leaving I gave directions to our gardeners, and then was on my way.

My route starts by climbing up a tenth of a mile steep driveway, followed by a quarter of a mile flat, and then exiting the neighborhood down a half mile long hill.   I was enjoying the breeze and the fast glide with no effort.  Upon turning the corner at the bottom of the hill, my mind started wandering, going back to the conversation with the gardeners.  Suddenly I became aware I had forgotten to put on my helmet. 

Angry at my carelessness I immediately turned around to head back home and went into low gear for the uphill journey.  I reminded myself to be more mindful in the future.  This triggered the thought--why not be more mindful now?  With observation, I realized my tunnel-vision, with my mind racing, frantically heading up the hill to correct the problem.  As I relaxed, the scope of my thoughts expanded--I wondered where the helmet had fallen off.  Probably going up the steep driveway I concluded.

I am not sure how much was attributed to the steep climb up the hill or the continued mindful observation, but with further awareness and mind relaxation (but not my legs!) I decided to check my assumptions.  I stopped my bike and looked at my back rack.   There was the helmet.

How many times do we fail to be mindful and base our decision making on emotional scripts and don’t consider alternative courses of action?  The steep hill reminded me of many lessons I knew but didn’t apply. 

First, it’s important to me more mindful in all our actions.   I often quote Ben Franklin and say that “a step in time saves nine.”  In this case mindful-action at the start of the trip would have saved the possible return trip up the hill. 

Second, when trouble in life occurs, it’s important to be mindful and slow down, so that narrow, unproductive scripts do not take over your decision making. 

Third, I need look for an alternative, less steep route to return to home.

How does life remind you to be more mindful?   What lessons have you recently learned along the mindfulness path?