A Different Way To Take Inventory
/Naikan- a Japanese practice of taking inventory
What have I received? What have I given? What difficulties have I caused?
In Naikan practice, we train the mind in balance. Our mind develops “a wide-angle lens.” 10 Starting an evening inventory with the first Naikan question shifts our attention away from the pain of our difficulties to the joys of what we have received. We move from the natural human tendency to zero in on what bothers and agitates us to seeing a more complete view. This is not to say that we revert to denial about things that are distressing and difficult. Rather, we learn to keep our troubles in perspective. We practice looking at the whole picture, both the good and the bad.