I’m a Human Being — Sitting at My Desk, Fingers on My Keyboard

A new mindfulness realization dawns on marble head.

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

My therapist told me about a book called Clinical Dharma: A Path for Healers and Helpers by Dr. Stephen Dansiger. She said it had been helpful to her, and she thought it would be helpful to me.

In this book, the author talks about applying Buddhist principles to clinical practices — and beyond. Specifically, this relates to the Noble Eightfold Path. Some of it has resonated with me, some not as much.

If you are unfamiliar with the Eightfold Path, it includes,

1. Right view
2. Right resolve
3. Right speech
4. Right conduct
5. Right livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right samadhi (concentration, meditation, or contemplation)

As I was reading the section on Right Mindfulness, Dr. Dansiger wrote about an experience he had while seated in zazen (meditation practice), and afterward excitedly told his teacher (Roshi),

“I just realized that I’m a human being — sitting on the ground!”