Spirituality in the ThirdAge |
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Life's truth is in the moment, says Sylvia Boorstein, 60, a nationally known teacher of Buddhist meditation. Boorstein is the author of three books, all published by Harper San Francisco: It's Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness (1995); Don't Just Do Something, Sit There: A Mindfulness Retreat Manual (1996); and That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being a Faithful Jew and a Passionate Buddhist (1997). She holds a doctorate in psychology and has been a practicing psychotherapist for 30 years. She and her husband, Seymour, live in northern California and have four children and six grandchildren. Below, Sylvia Boorstein speaks on meditation and spiritual issues especially relevant to ThirdAgers. She was interviewed for this article by ThirdAge writer Catharine Reeve.
ThirdAge: When you describe your spiritual path, do you call yourself a Buddhist?
 Boorstein: I am a Buddhist, and I am a Jew. People seem to think that it's not possible to have two religious paths. My parents were Jewish. I live a traditionally Jewish life. Twenty years ago, I was encouraged to go to a Buddhist mindfulness retreat. I was very much inspired and changed from having heard what the Buddha taught. When I say I'm a Buddhist, it means, "inspired by the teachings of the Buddha and changed by the practice of mindfulness."
ThirdAge: What is mindfulness? Is it like meditation?
Boorstein: It is. The practice of mindfulness is the practice of paying attention in every moment of one's day. It's the balanced recognition of the truth of the moment. What's going on right now, how do I feel about it, what are the options available to me, what will be the wisest course in terms of not creating suffering for myself or other people?
Mindfulness is also a capacity of mind that everybody has. It isn't a mantra or a visualization, it isn't about having a mind empty of thoughts. It's one of those things that we need to remember rather than learn how to do, which for me is really an important differentiation. You needn't think, "Uh oh, I can't do this."
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