Tending the mind
Reading Buddhist psychology to understand how my own mind works. Currently in the “Nội lực” (Inner Strength) course with a small buddy group — learning to stand steady from the inside.
Chapter III
An ordinary day
Most of life doesn’t happen in the big moments, but in the habits that repeat every week.
Gym & pitch
About a year of lifting. Evenings after work, split into Push / Pull / Legs. The goal isn’t muscle — it’s a body strong enough that the mind can be quiet.
| Mon | Push — chest, shoulders, triceps | push |
|---|---|---|
| Tue | Pull — back, biceps | pull |
| Wed | Rest, walk the dog | rest |
| Thu | Legs — quads, hamstrings, glutes | legs |
| Fri | Optional extra session | free |
| Weekend | A football match | ball |
The four-legged one
My most patient teacher. Has never read a Buddhist text, yet lives in the present far better than I do.
The kitchen
Always in the fridge: oats, bananas, chicken breast, yoghurt, milk. Simple, cheap, enough protein.
Confession: I don’t eat eggs. Especially boiled ones.
Place
Hanoi, a corner outside the Red River dike. In the late afternoon the river wind comes in, car horns mixed with birdsong.