Whenever we are in a very busy environment, we should take care of our minds by guarding our senses. Guarding the senses entails being aware of where they go — where we direct our eyes, what sounds we pay attention to, what smells we are fixated on, what tastes we are longing for, and what tactile sensations we are imagining and craving. This specifically applies to the five senses because they are the ones that are in contact with the external world.

But the practice will also affect the sixth sense, the mental sense, and all the preconceptions that arise in our mind due to contact with a lot of external phenomena. The process of guarding the senses is a basic monastic practice that we do at Sravasti Abbey, but we especially practise it when we go into town. In town, there are billboards, and music and many people instead of the butterflies, knapweed, and deer that we see around the Abbey. We have to take care not to let our eyes, ears, and imagination go all over the place, but have to try to stay very centered with our breathing and our motivation of kindness.

“365 Gems of Wisdom” e-book is out now!