Survive in the metropolis: 7 recommendations of the city monk

Self-restraint and daily spiritual practice help to cope with many problems of everyday life: stress, lack of time, chronic fatigue, insomnia, loss of meaning.

But how to combine asceticism with the realities of city life? We tell ourselves that we will meditate in the evening, but nod off, because we spent the whole day at the table, reducing the budget. “Ascetics rejected the world, and our world consists of mortgages, loan payments, utility bills and cars that need to be constantly fueled,” writes meditation master Pedram Shojay. In The City Monk, he offers a set of principles to help city dwellers cope with stress, overcome fatigue, and achieve their goals. Here are some recommendations.

1. Sit on the ground more often

The posture we take when sitting at a desk or in a car seat is not quite natural for our bodies. By resting our elbows on a table or our hands on a steering wheel, we use additional support and disable critical back muscles. The sitting posture makes us lazy and weak. Therefore, whenever possible, sit on the floor, lawn or ground.

Sitting on the floor and rising from a sitting position without support, we strengthen the correct posture, develop a sense of balance and agility. It helps to feel good and stay energetic. In addition, as we sit on the earth, we develop a deep, fundamental connection with it. By the way, the basic position in kung fu is called the “horseman pose”, and the main thing in it is to grow your feet to the ground, like roots, and “hold” it with your feet. Use your connection to the earth to feed on its power.

2. Do things that scare you.

In former times, people had to defend themselves from wild animals and robbers. Their lives were filled with danger and the spirit of discovery. Their survival depended only on themselves. It took several days to get to the nearest doctor, and you had to be extremely careful along the way.

Today, we are unsettled by any little things like a rude phrase thrown by a saleswoman in a store. And this is an occasion to reconsider the usual way of life. Try to do something that scares you every day. Finally invite a colleague on a date, go to Peru alone, skydive – in short, do something that will pull you out of that monotonous reality that has dulled your sensations. And then you will laugh at what used to bother you.

Discomfort triggers the survival mechanisms inherent in the genes and awakens us from the boring reality in which we are mired in mud. Breaking through fears and testing ourselves for strength, we feel vulnerable and alive. This is the best way to reset your perception of stress. As Henry Ford once said, “Obstacles are the horror stories we notice when we take our eyes off the goal.”

3. Drink food

When do we usually eat soup? Usually when I’m sick. Heat treatment helps break down food and lighten the load on the body.

So why not use soups to take the strain off our tired bodies, release some energy and feel lighter? After all, if the goal of a monk is to sit and meditate on life and the nature of human existence, then a hastily swallowed huge cheese burrito will result in only one result: a sleepy monk with confused thoughts.

Once a week, eat like you’re sick. Replacing solid foods with liquid foods is a great way to give your body a break and restore the lining of your digestive tract.

4. Take work for a walk

Find a way to activate your body and mind and burn calories even during an eight-hour work day. Enjoy the sun and fresh air.

Unless I have to watch a webinar or read a document on my computer, I follow the rule that during phone calls I should get up and go for a walk. I talk it over with people all the time: “I spend thousands of hours a month on the phone, and if I did it while sitting at my desk, my back would hurt and I would get fat. So, if you don’t mind, I will talk to you and take a walk, and I recommend that you do the same.”

Now we do not meet as partners at a round table, but go to the forest. We breathe fresh air, burn 500 calories without stopping working. Movement brings us back to life and helps us do things better.

5. Keep a vow of silence

A daily vow of silence once a month helps restore vitality. In our culture, silence is filled with words. We waste so much chi every day talking nonsense that stopping this flow can be extremely beneficial. Silence is full of energy. Learn to listen to her.

I usually go one day a month without talking. As a rule, this happens on Sundays, and I warn everyone that I will not answer. Silence helps to create a small barrier between you and the world so that you have some space to reflect, meditate and enjoy the silence. Remain silent from the moment you wake up until the next morning. At first, the practice may be uncomfortable, but “on the other side” incredible power awaits you.

6. Learn from everyone you meet

I will tell you a secret: you can learn something from each person, learn something new about life. You can ask a taxi driver about a city, an old man in a park about ducks or plants, a child about a favorite color.

Starting any dialogue with a question, you give credit to the knowledge of people, and they feel that they are valuable to society. Always thank the interlocutors for the information they shared, and do it from the heart. Asking questions and gratefully accepting answers is a universal way to break the ice between you and others. In this way, you not only establish contact, but support your decision to continue learning throughout your life.

7. Manage the energy of money

Money earned by labor is energy. Try to invest this energy in people worthwhile undertakings, trips, courses, projects that help you become better and at the same time make the world around you better.

Do you feel like you are wasting money on things that are unnecessary and meaningless? Then try the next exercise. Before you take out your wallet and make a purchase, ask yourself: “Is this a need or a desire?” A simple question will lead to many interesting observations. You will find yourself arguing with yourself about certain things. It will seem to you that you need a thing or one day it may come in handy. Do not refuse to buy, just watch how often you have to make excuses to yourself.

We rationalize our impulsive purchases and then worry about the money spent. We think we deserve to buy ourselves this and that, and then we curse our extravagance when a deal falls through at work, and we needed this amount to pay the rent. This exercise is a simple accounting practice that will save you a lot of money if you do it right.

Source: P. Shodzhai “City monk” (Publishing house “E”, “Eksmo”, 2018).