The little Smiling Buddha and Zen meditation

Just as Johnnie Walker’s famous Striding Man icon insists we “Keep Walking”, there is a little Buddha on my bookshelf who has been with me through all my adversities and reminds me to “Keep Smiling”. He is a portly little fellow, two inches tall, beaming sunnily like he hasn’t a care in the world. And encouraging me to do the same. I can’t remember where he came from. But he’s always been there. Like some life-saving drug in the medicine chest.

I have several Buddhas on my bookshelf. Acquired from China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and one majestic reclining one from Cambodia. They have taught me an amazing Zen meditation. How to refill my bucket on a regular basis by catching my breath, finding quiet and solitude, and focusing my mind inward, making time for recovery from the chaos that my routine has spun into. It helps to gain control of depressing and defeating thoughts when alone. Like in a lockdown.

Being kind to oneself

You can learn it too. All it requires is your willingness. And you can do it anywhere. Hold still for a moment. Take several slow, deep breaths and try and empty your mind of all the angst and idle chatter inside. This is not easy. But is achievable. It makes room for a change of state. For something new to enter. Don’t say you can’t do it. That your mind is easily distracted. Led astray by everyday thoughts. You can just as stubbornly come back to the meditation.

Everybody has battles to fight, insecurities to overcome, loved ones to contend with, goals to achieve. But it’s perfectly okay to pause and let the world spin without you for a while. Your greatest spiritual liberation will not come from sitting in meditation. It will come from simply saying, “I want what I want. And I will approach that with the greatest self-compassion.” This means being kind to yourself. Keep your focus on mindful breathing. Give it a shot and see.

About Mark Manuel

The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel Someone who has interviewed almost every role model this country has to offer as of now. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist. With over three decades of journalism in leading publications including the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is widely known for his brilliantly penned interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.

His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him. In the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat. Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. In a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work, Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward.

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