what a terrible day yesterday! what a great day! i had two exams yesterday. normally i get myself all worked up and annoyed about them. i knew that i would not ace either one of them but that was not the problem. well, i woke up early morning, went to meditation (no prostrations since my wrists are SHOT) and then home. i ate, enjoyed the morning air, went to class, and then relaxed (trying really hard to make my hands happier). i went into the first exam 100% relaxed and the only thing that annoyed me the whole way through was my wrists (they really are pissed off right now…). while i was “thinking” through a problem (ie: needed to clear my mind to deal with it), i said the prajna paramita mantra to myself quietly:
gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha
it worked and i left the exam with pained hands but a clear mind. i entered the next exam with the same mentality. although i may not have aced either exam (actually i know that i did not come close), it did not matter since my mind was clear about both.
the rest of the evening was spent happily helping cs15 students and reading kaye. what a great day!