Embracing ancient traditions in modern ways.
Acknowledging the need to balance stress with moments of calm, is understood by older cultures—often ingrained in their tradition and lifestyle.
This inherent knowledge has less value in a modern world fed a diet of constant stimulus and driven by quotas of productivity. Technology adds to the cycle of chronic stress, but distance from tradition also plays a part.
This article looks at the forgotten heritage of mindful practise in ancient cultures, and considers modern alternatives adapted to align naturally with ones lifestyle.
The value of focus.
Consider the precision of an expert marksman, the sharp reactions of a race car driver or the innovative mastery of a robotics engineer. The defining quality of these elite professionals is their ability to focus.
In a recent interview with Tony Schwartz (CEO, The Energy Project), thought leader Daniel Goleman (Emotional Intelligence, Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence) explored the impact of technology on our ability to focus, and how training attention can positively influence both our performance and our relationships.
Productive Relaxation.
Relax you’ll be more Productive is the title of an article by Tony Schwartz for the New York Times. If your job or ambitious nature promotes productivity as the ultimate goal then the revelation that relaxation can boost your productivity will offer good motivation to make time to unwind!
Cultural Therapy.
A flourishing community of ‘Primal’ or ‘Paleo’ devotees, represents our growing interest to reconnect with ancient wisdom. Mark Sisson is amongst several pioneers in primal philosophy and lifestyle integration, and his blog MarksDailyApple.com attracts thousands of readers from all walks of life. The topics are diverse and encompass a plethora of health and wellbeing issues, referencing anthropological studies, ancestral medicine, functional fitness, native nutrition, to name a few.
Traditions are analysed for their contextual value, then explored for adaptive premiss through open discussion—this allows city and urban dwellers to incorporate ancient culture to their modern world. For example, the article Music: Why you should pick-up an instrument and start playing offers a modern spin on an ancient mindful practise.
Nourishing Tradition.
Bespoke whole-food company Loving Earth, offers a direct connection to cultural traditions—supporting native growers globally, through profit and education. Their products are rich in nutrition and heritage cultivated by traditional methods from wild harvests. This gives consumers in a modern world access to ancient foods, natively grown and processed. Loving Earth have created a beautiful website filled with information on food origin, historical use and cultural significance to expand our knowledge of ancient culture. Artful imagery accompanying exotic recipes, further excites our sense for tradition.
Deeper reflection of culture also helps surface our inner calm, and reverence for tradition. This is reflected in the article Remembering the Art of Play in Social Work in which Lauren Hill (Loving Earth Ambassador) shares her insights from a trip to India.
Dedicated to raising awareness and support for community incentives whilst promoting health and cultural heritage, carries merit as a means of mindfulness.
Food has long been used to connect people in a celebration of earths bounty, and as a carrier of tradition. An extension of this is evident in how we treasure grandma’s recipe as a family heirloom, or treat Sunday roasts as a ritual. The art of cooking is in itself, an opportunity to practice mindfulness—focus on the bubbles forming in a boiling pot, slowly stir with rhythm and intent, immerse yourself in the aromas rising from a stove, or use cooking as a means to connect with loved ones.
Secrets to Serenity.
The new title ‘Calm: Secrets to Serenity from the Cultures of the World’ (due out Dec 5th) from travel authority Lonely Planet, rounds up my collection of resources.
Presenting a fine case for mindful culture, this little book draws upon a global knowledge of some more unique and lesser known ancient traditions. The collection describes fifty age-old strategies to mastering stress, complete with suggestions on how to place a modern spin on each of the principles.
Calm is accessible and diverse in its approach to serenity, acknowledging the different paths we take to abate stress and find peace. There is something for everyone within its pages, whatever their method of mindfulness. Here are a few of my personal favourites.
Focus on one aim and eliminate distractions, like a Bhutanese archer.
Busy your hands to calm your mind, like an aboriginal weaving crafts.
Stay in the present to keep a powerful sense of identity, like the Pirahã tribe.
Run for the pleasure of it, like a Tarahumara runner.
Embrace impermanence, like a Chinese Buddhist practising Dishu (water calligraphy).
Control your breath, like a Bajau free-diver.
A treasury of tranquility, Calm connects us with ancient traditions and mindful cultures!
