The last aspect of When Things Fall Apart that I want to explore is the way Pema Chodron describes tactics for cultivating mindfulness and presence. I thought this formed a vital part of the work because without a disciplined method for staying in the moment and rejecting escapes from reality, there is a risk of someone falling victim to various cheap desires or temptations when struggling under the burden of a difficult time.
Meditation is a commonly used and widely known method that Chodron writes about in more detail. She describes the goal of meditation as constantly finding a way back to the mind’s relaxed state and suggests using the out-breath to acknowledge and dissolve any distracting thought. She specifies that saying ‘thinking’ to yourself as you acknowledge a thought is a reliable way to let distractions float away from the mind. Over time, the clutter of distracting thoughts melts from the mind and allows it the freedom to become fully present within itself.
One important result of the fully present mind is the way it can experience our full range of emotions. This in turn helps us accept others and their emotions so that we can remain fully present without feeling the temptation to fill any space that makes us uncomfortable. The mindfulness that emerges from a good meditative practice helps us refrain from jumping into any problem that drifts into the mind. It allows us to put aside our fear and hang in there when we sense that something is missing so that we can fully enjoy the present moment and respond to its changing need. If we can do this consistently so that we are able to feel the joy and grief for others that Chodron calls our soft spot, we have the most important tool required for bringing the change we need into the world.
