We seem to have lost the ability to pay attention with the diligence necessary to see the hidden, divine side of things. Painters, poets, and mystics all catch glimpses of it. To see properly, we must discipline the mind. The object of our attention can be anything — the intensity of concentration is what makes the insight come. When something strikes you in a way that makes you realize the world still has beauty, flag it as a focus for meditation.

Try this meditation for one minute today, or longer if you wish:

PICK SOMETHING from nature and concentrate on it exclusively. Familiarize yourself with it, so you can see it even with your eyes closed. Listen and wait for its secrets to be revealed.

Divine consciousness makes us feel that Spirit (however that is defined) is right here, inside each life breath, inside each heartbeat, inside everyone and everything around us.
—Sri Chinmoy, Indian meditation teacher

How did this meditation go for you? Share your experience with your fellow North Shore Bank employees at shorelines@northshorebank.com and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Mindfulness in Plain English, by Bhante Gunaratana.

If you’d like a daily email reminder to practice one minute of mindfulness, email us with the subject “Mindfulness reminder.”