Reflection from Chris Clifford on Clear Comprehension in Daily Life

A reflection on practice by Other Teachers & Folks We Value

The term “clear comprehension” is  frequently used in the Suttas in conjunction with mindfulness to indicate a broader and deeper kind of mindful awareness within the context of ordinary daily life activities.   The commentaries to the Suttas describe four facets of clear comprehension.   Reflecting on our daily life activities in these four ways allows wisdom to inform more of how we live our life.

• PURPOSE
  

Taking time to discern the underlying  purpose of whatever we are engaged in helps bring  more energy and focus towards engaging in our life as a process of awakening. Is there a clear purpose in our current activity or has compulsive busyness or distraction taken over?  It may be that a job, hobby or pleasure that served us earlier in life is no longer in line with maturing spiritual wisdom…? Perhaps we need to find ways to refresh the original inspiration for our work…? Can we find higher purpose in our interactions by cultivating compassion for ourselves, our clients and co-workers…?  A former work colleague used to remind us, “don’t let the urgent always drive out the vital”.  There is a wholesome and necessary purpose for relaxation, playfulness, creativity and nourishing the spirit.

• SUITABILITY

Is how we are doing what we’re doing suitable for the purpose?  Do we relax by watching a movie that arouses anxiety or desire? What is the quality of heart we bring to the moment: kindness or harshness?  As a retreat cook, though the purpose and suitability of the food lies in simplicity, I can get caught up in trying too hard to make novel or overly rich food.

• KEEPING ATTENTION IN THE DOMAIN OF PRACTICE

The appropriate domain for our attention is the four foundations of mindfulness.  Can we stay connected and grounded in our bodies? Can we recognize judgment, grasping and emotional reactivity as conditioned, passing mind-states when they occur? Are we able to keep at least some of our attention in one of the four foundations of mindfulness during our daily life activities?  We are in the domain of practice when we tune into these ways of viewing our present moment experience.

• NON-DELUSION

Are we acting in a way that accords with reality…non-delusion?  How upset are we with the first scratch on our new car?  How much are we trying to manage or defend our self-image in relationship to how we think others see us or how we need to see ourselves?  Living life with the deluded attitude that our health and life will last forever, do we keep putting off what we suspect we really need to do?

Checking in with these questions throughout the day allows our ordinary daily life… its means and its ends… to support and inform a wholesome, wise and overarching clear comprehension that the purpose of our life is to awaken to freedom from suffering.