Wasting Water

I have to admit that I can waste water as I get lost in thought in the shower in the morning. It is better for environment if I take a later shower since they are much quicker. On some days, my head just fills with all kinds of thoughts that I want to get down. Since this computer doesn't work well in the shower, I often don't get it down anywhere.

I am trying to be more mindful in the shower rather than getting lost in thought and wasting water. I think about mindfulness more than I ever have before. When I am getting upset or starting to stew about something, I try to come into the present moment. Tara Brach is so helpful and I keep playing her talks because they speak directly to me so often.

Today I had just discovered the internet site with the simple name Buddhism Teacher by the Dharma Teacher, Glenn Hughes (Mahayana Ordination name: Anagarika Vimalakirti). I like the banner on his site "A Buddhist is primarily a person in search of a satisfying life while pursuing enlightenment and practicing compassion and loving kindness." On the page about the Four Noble Truths, he has another way to interpret them:

1. Life can stink
2. Because of our ignorance,
3. But there’s a way to make it smell good.
4. Here’s how.

I remembered the four spiritual laws that I learned in the late '60s as part of the Jesus Movement. I tried them a few times but didn't like them at all, the method seemed very insensitive to the person by trying to fit them into a box. I wondered if someone has come upon the Buddhist teaching and decided Christians needed something. I don't know if anyone has researched it but for many folks it was very important that Christian teachings be unique and exclusive. The little pamplet "laws" became popular in the Jesus Movement because as Americans, we like catch phrases.