Yogi: How to make mindfulness at work a habit?

Sayadaw: Make it a habit to always know how the mind feels all the time, not just at work – then it comes easily when you’re at work.

When you know how you feel all the time, then the moment the mind gets a little stressed, you’ll be aware and can do something about it right away.

We’re so used to being aware of the body and a little of how we feel – but we don’t know how to recognize the working mind. When we work, we use the mind in different ways – it has to do so many things – and we don’t know how to recognize that the mind is working. We are either into the work or we’re aware of something else, but we can’t be aware and still carry out the work. 

For example, we can’t be aware when we’re reading or when watching TV because when we’re aware we can’t understand what we’re reading or watching and when we understand what we’re reading or watching, we forget to be aware. We put all our energy into one or the other – either being aware or into what we’re doing.

Practicing seeing and looking on retreat is a good way of dividing our energy between being aware and watching concepts – e.g. when you look at the flower, and at the same time, recognize that seeing is happening. Do it very lightly. (We can practice this for all the 6 senses.)

I ask yogis not to put too much effort into being aware, but to just maintain a light awareness that is persistent, because the awareness gains momentum and power when you have a light awareness that persists for a long time. You can be working and still maintain awareness only when the awareness is gentle.