The Most Important Practice 2

Fragments from imaginary dialogues

“What is the most important practice, the One Thing?“

“Wisdom?“

“‘Wisdom’ is an abstraction. Abstractions make unreliable practices.

Don’t rush it. What does it mean for a practice to be the most important practice?“

“Thinking hierarchically, it’s a practice that is a meta-practice to all other practices – the highest-order practice.
Thinking metaphorically, it’s a practice connected to all others.
Thinking pragmatically, it’s the most impactful practice.“

“What comes to mind now?“

“Three powerful quotes:

Awareness heals.

Everything you do is an act of poetry if you do it with mindfulness. (Thich Nhat Hanh)

Each thought, each action in the sunlight of awareness becomes sacred. In this light, no boundary exists between the sacred and the profane. (Thich Nhat Hanh)

It’s Awareness! Awareness is the most important practice.”

“It’s useful to gain clarity on what the most important practice is – to make one practice central: it helps you remember.

But there’s one more step.

‘Awareness’ is also an abstraction. The risk of any practice is to remain stuck at the conceptual level. This is another form of self-deception.

Always remember:

The finger pointing at the moon is not the moon.

Endlessly ask yourself:

What is the moon?”