Sometimes the stress in law practice comes from the inability to unitask. On April 21, 2006, James Baraz, a founding teacher of the Spirit Rock Meditation Center, taught attorneys in Woodacre, CA how to eat raisins one at a time in order to make food more tasteful, be more aware of the self and others, and appreciate interactions in the world.
First, think of the events that had to happen in order for a raisin to get to someone's plate. Seeds for grapes had to be planted. Sun had to shine. Grapes had to be picked and then dried. Raisins had to be packed, and then delivered to a store. Someone had to buy the raisins. Raisins had to be put on a plate, and then served.
Next, before putting a raisin in the mouth, touch it and look at its texture. Observe how the raisin goes to the mouth from the plate.
When the raisin is in the mouth, notice how it goes on the tongue. Before chewing on it, feel the raisin in the mouth.
When chewing on the raisin, observe its flavor. How strong is the flavor? Notice that the flavor comes and goes. The flavor gives pleasure, but do not prolong the pleasure by getting another raisin.
Swallow the raisin. Notice how the flavor completely disappears from the mouth. Feel how it goes down the throat, on its way to the stomach.
By understanding how pleasure easily comes and goes, food will taste better. Like the raffles in Las Vegas, NV where one must be present to win, one must be present in order to see a world of connection, to belong in life; and understand that just as the flavor of a raisin passes, life is full of death, but at the same time, death is full of life.
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