Exam coming and all I can think of is formulas and here comes one!

T = S + W + P

T = 24hrs a day for everyone.

S = Sleeping & time where we are totally not aware of what we are doing.

W = Working and also includes time where we are handling mundane matters like shopping and moving around.

P = Time allocated specifically for practising the Dharma or dharmic work (i.e Volunteering in temple.)

We all have the standard 24hrs unless we are talking about beings of other planets that revolve the sun at different velocity. So what do we do with this 24hrs? A famous story told about everyday time is credited into our account and at the end of the day, all remaining time will be debited away. So what really matters is what we do with it.

Sleeping time is very straight forward but how about time when we are unaware of our doings. Mind difting all about with no focal point. Not knowing what should be done, how to do it and the consequences of doing things. Basically thinking about nothing.

P is practise time or doing dharmic work. Learning and practising the Dharma is to pave the way for enlightenment as well as liberating sufferings along our path to enlightenment. It stretches for more than a life time. But how much do we focus on this portion? We tend to focus so much on working so as to lead a better "this" life and only this life. Shouldn't we focus more attention to benefits that stretches far more than "a" lifetime and countless beings around.

Now the tricky part which is the W. We all work in a way and this includes studying as well as carrying out daily chores. I believe esp for fellow buddhist, we could turn this W to benefit the P. For other religion, we can think of God frequently. But at a single moment, it is impossible to have 2 concurrent thoughts. Putting it simply, we can not think of solving maths problem and think of God.

But as a Buddhist, Buddha teaches us to be mindful in all our actions. Be it our bodily actions, speech and mind. Meditation teaches us to focus and observe our fleeting thoughts moment to moment. Thus being mindful of what we are doing, we are practising the Dharma at the same time !! Practising the Dharma or even specifically chanting do not necessary need an object or even a name. The dharma is formless (无相).

May we all strive well in our ways.