“Bowing practice means that your body
and your mind become one very quickly.”
- Zen Master Dae Bong
I’d always thought that monks bowed to show reverence but recently learned that, for some sects of Buddhist monks, it’s a sign that their minds wandered during meditation; bowing is a way to get themselves back on track.
Like us, monks can have “monkey mind”—a term derived from the Chinese word xinyan that means unsettled, restless and wandering. Connecting the mind and body always brings me back to the present moment, especially when I practice a new yoga routine or intentionally breathe deeply.
It’s so easy to get off track. In fact, bruises on my legs remind me of times my mind seemed disconnected from my body—bumping into a table while thinking about a new activity for my students.
I’ve set an alert on my cell phone that goes off five times a day (at 8, 11, 2, 5 and 8) to remind me to breathe deeply and take in my surroundings through each of my senses. And when I hear church bells or the tower bell on the campus where I work, I use that sound as a call to center myself too. During these times I often find myself silently expressing gratitude. Perhaps this is my version of salat, the Islamic pillar of praying five times a day.
What can you do today to connect your mind and body?
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