Bowing

When you bow to the Buddha, what are you really doing? Who are you really bowing to? Buddhist bowing disturbs some people because they think it’s bowing to a god, a person, or even an idol. You know who the historical Buddha was, but bowing to the Buddha is not bowing to that person, to god, or to anything at all outside yourself. Bowing to the Buddha is bowing to awakening itself, the universe’s true nature, which you yourself share.

The simplest Buddhist bow is to put your hands together in the prayer mudra (position), palms and fingers touching, fingertips in front of your chin. Now bend from your waist. You are bowing.

More beautiful is the full bow, where one touches the floor. If you have a Buddha image, or bow in a temple, or just feel like it, it is appropriate to bow this way. There are many variations; I’ll describe the Zen style. First, bow as above, but then bend your knees and drop them to the floor so you’re kneeling. Now sit down on your legs and lean forward so your head comes toward the ground. As you do, separate your hands so your arms point forward and let them rest on the ground from the elbows on, with your palms facing up. Lower your head all the way and let your forehead touch the ground. As you do this, raise your palms a few inches into the air, a gesture that symbolizes raising the Buddha above your individual self.

The sequence is very smooth and easy once you’ve practiced it. More important, though, is practicing the idea of bowing to the Buddha, to the future, to something greater than yourself.

Driving Mindfully

Teens die on the road all the time. So do adults, but teens are in even greater danger. Here’s a meditation that might help you understand why.

Try an awareness meditation while you drive. You’ll need to do it when you’re driving alone or when no one expects you to talk to them. It is vastly easier to do in a quiet car. Turn off the music. Sit up straight but comfortably and hold the wheel with both hands (like you’re supposed to). Drive within the speed limit, and let go of your thoughts other than those arising from the immediate experience of driving.

Observe what you see and hear and feel. Don’t dwell on any one thing; move on to the next. Notice the unbelievable bunch of stuff happening. Driving is one of the most engaging, dangerous, fast-paced things you’ll ever do. Yet most drivers normally only halfway pay attention to it, which is insane.

Let your mind fill with the actual, “right now” experience of just driving. Amazing intensity: the texture of the road’s shoulder, the speed of oncoming vehicles, the sensuous vibration of the tires. It’s like a video game—but it’s real. When you truly concentrate on driving, the speed limit is as fast as you can handle. It’s plenty. Mindful driving is the same as good driving. No time for talk or music, and no need for them, either.

Driving meditation gives you an unexpected gift: the beauty of the road. You’ll find yourself noticing the color of flowers, the character of a building, smoke from a chimney, who knows. What surrounds you every day is overwhelming, and when you’re driving, it comes that much quicker. Last time I did this, I got an extra bonus: I had the joyful view of a cop passing me on a lonely road at night when I wasn’t speeding. Now that is traffic school!