Dealing with time

Have you ever experienced a feeling “I don’t have enough time?” Last year I got quite stressed, even had to take the Tibetan medicine called “Agar,” because sometimes it was difficult for me to fall asleep. This year I’m using the system developed by Russian scientist Alexander Lubishchev. He used to calculate and write down how much time each of his actions takes, and he had been doing that every day for about 60 years of his life. At the end of each day, each month and each year he created the report showing how much time he spent doing what. In that way, he was able to know how much time exactly it takes to read each of the books he read, write each of the treatises and articles he wrote, how much time he had been communicating or resting or doing sport.

As en experiment, I’m trying to do the same. At first glance, it might seem weird, complicated, boring, dualistic and so on, but it really helps you to get to know yourself better. The first aim of that is, of course, to become more conscious how you spend your time and how much free time you have. It helps me to combine my daily Buddhist practice, work, Shedra classes and self-study, and I always can see how much time I have to do extra Buddhist reading or just to relax. Relaxing is important in order to avoid getting stressed, but one needs to find time for that! 
Also I’m trying to find some time to study Gaudiya Vaishnavism at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Maybe some other Shedra students wonder if it is possible to combine studying at RYI with their work or with something else, and my answer is yes, if you can make friends with time. I’m working for the Russian team of the Tara’s Triple Excellence online meditation program. 
This program, designed by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and some of his senior students, provides the opportunity to study and practice Dharma in a gradual manner, starting with the teachings on the basic Buddhist principles (four noble truths, renunciation, detachment, refuge), and going further to the advanced teachings of Mahayana and Vajrayana. The program is already available in English, and we are working on the Russian version, and, as far as I know, other languages also will be available.   

Evgeny together with Nika (center) and Mike (right) –  members of the Tara team.

More things that may help when you are stressed, although it is very individual: cancel some unnecessary things if possible, do sport, spend some time with close friends, laugh, do khora, go to the nature or at least find a place where you can see a nice, long distance view, and, of course, do meditation, especially those types when you just relax without an object.

~Evgeny from Russia