Bristolboro
Well-known member
Yes, agree with that. The value of sitting practice is limited if your normal mind just reasserts itself afterwards (actually it's your ego regaining control of your mind). My experience is that the deeper you go in your practice the more the surface mind is cleansed, although considerable effort is required.It's a good question.
I think when I was in the habit of doing it - a few years ago now, I felt that its regimented daily use was losing its impact so I was trying to use mindfulness in the moment...eg at work during stressful moments to come back to the breathing or in a frustrating traffic jam - back to the breathing. I do still do that but having lost the momentum of the 30 minutes a day, the routine is broken and it takes effort to reinstate it.
And, like you, I find that traffic (quite something, here in Bristol), is a great opportunity to practice mindfulness. A good reason to be a cab driver. Most stressful moments involve encounters with other people, but this is really encounters with our self.