Zen and the art of drinking beer

Un amigo cumplió 50, y lo celebramos en el pub irlandés con unas cervezas. La verdad es que nunca había pensado en la cerveza como una experiencia mística.

Zen and the art of drinking beer

I receive the question quite often about meditation in my clinical practice. What is meditation? How do I do it? And what are the benefits? Quite simply, meditation is the intentional practice of experiencing life in the present moment. It's about realizing the power of now vs. the power of the past or future.

When we meditate, we can feel our breath trickle past our nose, tickle our throat, and expand our lungs and diaphragm. It is the moment when we lie down in bed after a long day, and luxuriate in the warmth and comfort of the sheets. And it is the sipping and enjoyment of a frosty mug of beer.

Drinking beer can be a meditative practice. Or not. The binge drinking of our college years in which we slurped down cans of Natural Light was mindless. What we are seeking is mindful activity. If you go to a pub and request an aromatic Pliny the Elder or a Brother David's Double, first observe the beer. Watch the colors, the swirling of the amber liquid, and the haze created by unfiltered and cask-conditioned ale. Then bring the glass to your nose and take a whiff. This can actually be one of the best parts of drinking beer, enjoying the nose.

On an IPA or Pale Ale, you'll usually enjoy a floral or citrusy bouquet followed by a sweet and then bitter taste when drunk. On a nut brown ale, the smell will usually be more subdued and slightly nutty. The flavor profile will be sweet and malty. As we sip our beer, wash the liquid over different parts of the tongue. Taste the different flavors as the beer is finally swallowed and note how "thick" or "thin" the flavor is. And as we open our eyes, we've finished a meditation session.

During this time, we haven't thought about our job, holiday shopping or our weight loss diet. We've focused on each moment as it passed before us and experienced it fully. That is the power of meditation: to embrace each moment and not yearn for something else.

We can meditate on anything we choose. Some people meditate using their breath or on yoga poses. Anything can be used for the practice of meditation, for the practice of mindful living. So next time you lift up a frosty glass of beer, just tell everyone around you that this is part of your spiritual practice.