"The present moment is the only place we have any hope of finding happiness or peace," said Olivia Mancini, a high-level advertising executive at a major Manhattan firm, as she explained her affinity for Buddhism and its teachings. "And I'm going to start living in it very soon."
Unfortunately, Mancini explained, the launch of her own daily meditation practice has been on hold, temporarily delayed due to the brand-new product launches of two of her key clients.
"But sitting every day is a real priority for me,' she said. "I don't imagine there is anything more worthwhile than focusing on the miracle of breath and consciousness. And consistency in a mindfulness practice is critical, which is why I plan to sit twice a day, twenty minutes in the morning and twenty minutes at night."
And it's not just her own stress levels, anxiety, and general awareness that she aims to improve, Mancini emphasized; she also aspires to be a true bodhisattva and share the power of the darma with her colleagues at her workplace.
Mancini went on to explain that her firm will soon be hosting a mandatory mindfulness training next month titled "The Business of the Buddha," which will demonstrate to employees that their work suffering and dissatisfaction is actually nirvana. "Everything is temporary, and things like raises and vacation time don't actually make you happy. And we expect that this mindfulness training will really boost productivity."
While the corporate Buddhism training is extremely important to her, Mancini noted what is really going to really matter to her, and very soon, is her own spiritual practice. "I'm a really spiritual person. All we have is now."