Using the Computer for Mindfulness

A couple of weeks ago I bought Shambhala Deck with cards containing slogans relating to Chogyam Trungpa’s teachings on Shambhala Warriorship.  Each card has one slogan that is to be contemplated and includes a short commentary on the back.

I am fortunate to work at home so my office is in the same room as my personal computer.  I downloaded a small (free) program that basically plays a recording of a meditation gong every hour (it can be set for other time intervals).  Each time I hear this gong, I be sure to stop what I am doing and recite the day’s slogan out loud pausing for a moment afterwards to think about the slogan.  It’s a wonderful way to make sure that even if I am caught up in the business of my day, I am guaranteed to be called to the present at least 8 times a day (once for each hour I’m working).  On many days I can hear the bell throughout the house which has me stop other activities outside of work as well.

I have only been doing this for about 10 days, but it has been wonderful so I thought I would share in case anyone is interested.  You can use any pithy phrase, chant, prayer, etc. you wish.  You can also use a regular clock chime, set your watch alarm, or a telephone ring as your signal (or ‘Dot’, if you will) instead of a computer program.  I do not have any ‘chiming’ clocks and my phone doesn’t ring that much so my computer works just fine for me.

BTW – my wife gives me funny looks sometimes when we are in the living room when the gong goes off because I will all of a sudden recite the slogan out loud regardless of who is in the room with me. :-)