3 Lifestyle Changes That'll Make You Calm Like a Monk

Within you, there is a stillness and sanctuary to which you can retreat to at any time and be yourself.

H E R M A N N H E S S E

We all have certain mentors in our lives, I too have some who

are very inspiring and one such person is Dandapani. Sharing

an excerpt by him that is exactly what I would like to convey in

this page.

It seems poignant to share with you this quote from a dear

friend of mine, Michael Lutzenkirchen, "While I appear as a

teacher to you, I'm a student of the subject. And I hope it stays

that way. " This statement best describes where I am at my

journey of understanding the mind. I am a student of the

subject. Not a master. Not an expert. For the more I experience

and learn about the mind the more I realize how much I do not

know.

1. Sleep and diet.

W H Y I S S L E E P I N G E S S E N T I A L ?

Why is sleeping essential?

We all are a part of this divine universe which is interconnected by

a bond. It is the bond, which keeps the whole cosmos in order.

Cosmic energy is the 'Life Source'. Cosmic Energy is the base for all

our actions and functions. We receive some amount of cosmic

energy in deep sleep and in total silence. We are using this energy

for our day-to-day activities of our mind like seeing, speaking,

hearing, thinking and all actions of our body. Our body and mind

function on energy.

Above all,

Better Sleep = Better Mood

Therefore, getting a full night's sleep is essential.

Our bodies talk to us in various ways and we ought to listen to it.

We should take immediate actions or follow patterns that bring

back the essential balance in life.

Note

Working on your sleeping patterns can make your mind feel fresh

and lighter each day and is the first step towards calmness

Action Step

Once you have your sleep cycle in place i.e., 7 hours of essential

sleep, you can focus on the way it makes you feel each day

provided you are getting deep sleep without any dreams about

which I've mentioned in the next step.

2. Practicing Mindfulness.

I N T H E N E X T 3 M I N U T E S Y O U W I L L K N O W H O W T O

P R A C T I C E M I N D F U L L N E S S

In the previous chapter, we ended with the term 'deep sleep'.

Do you feel your mind keeps chattering at night?

Do you get dreams all the time and then feel restless when you

wake up?

Do you think it would be amazing if you get deep sleep more often?

Wherein you sleep at a designated hour and directly wake up the

next morning feeling refreshed.

The key to starting with it is simply by focussing on your breath, if

your mind shifts somewhere (it's alright). Gently shift your focus

back to your breath once you are aware that your mind has shifted

to another thought. This simple exercise can be best practiced

when walking. It personally took me a year to see the positive

effects of this exercise that has changed the way I feel about life

itself.

Note

Practicing this exercise will bring you more closer to nature. One

will start to focus on the sounds of nature and the depth each

season carries with it. All your senses will be heightened and you

will feel more connected to the earth and breathe along with it.

Action Step

You can start in two places. 1. Practicing it for 5 minutes before

sleeping. 2. While walking, make sure you are mindful about

everything around you and be fully aware of the place you are in.

Remember that the purpose of the exercise is not to run for peace

but being one with nature to feel at peace.

3. Breathing Exercise.

T H E M O S T I M P O R T A N T O F A L L

The Term 'breathing exercise' became a familiar word when my

uncle back in 2019 (who runs a tourism company and speaks

afluent Chinese) handed me a book name 'Qigong Exercises' that

he had purchased on one of his visits. He told me that how people

in Taiwan practice Qigong in parks early in the morning - their

movements calm and steady almost a scenario that would keep

you hooked. That book contained a CD wherein the teacher in it

taught the most basic Qigong exercises. I practiced it for weeks

with breaks in between. Now these breaks made me realized how

each day of exercise made me feel better when doing it and how

the breaks didn't feel as good as the exercise days.

It was then I decided to practice a breathing exercise for ten

minutes a day every morning without a break.

Around 500 CE, in the Liang Dynasty, Qigong was adopted by

various martial artists to increase stamina and power. For the most

part, the breathing, concentration, and agility were assets to the

warriors and improved their well-being.

Breathing exercises increase the amount of oxygen in the body and

increases the release of toxins with carbon-di-oxide. Increased

oxygen in the cells and tissues makes them healthier and help

them perform better. Healthier and proper functioning organs

improve the immune system of the body as well. Clean blood full of

oxygen fights better against infectious bacteria and viruses.

Improved breathing will also help in better absorption of vitamins

and minerals in the body.

Note

The main focus of mentioning a breathing exercise in this book is in the

feeling that it imparts to the brain because of the oxygen flow it provides,

one ends up feeling lighter, fresh and rejuvenated. Calm and steady like

the poise in Qigong.

Action Step

One can start by practicing it ten minutes a day.

Talk To Us

If you have read this blog on how to become calm like a monk and have any questions, feel free to comment below and ask us anything and we will surely answer it in the best way we can. You can also share your personal valuable experience like I have today.