Driving can be stressful as people often become impatient, selfish and rude when they get behind the wheel. Using some Zen principles, however, driving can become a pleasant and relaxing experience, independent of other drivers.
Steps
Step 1. Take your time
Do not rush. Take it easy. If you have to go somewhere and need to be on time, leave early so that you have plenty of time to arrive. Even if you are late, don't worry too much. You can't do much about it now, because traffic, traffic lights and road rules are always there. So relax. Drive like you have all the time in this world. If you are late at least you will enjoy the journey.
Step 2. Tune into the flow of traffic
Traffic moves like a school of fish. If you try to be in front of everyone and overtake other cars, the police may see you (they are like sharks) and you may make other drivers angry - dangerous! Being in tune with the flow doesn't mean you have to be defensive - you can overtake other cars and pass in front, always controlling your spaces with awareness and harmony. One thing is sure: if you are in tune you will feel like you are going faster, you will feel comfortable, you will listen to music in peace and they will never give you a ticket. Enjoy the journey as much as the destination and "be like water, my friend".
Step 3. Turn off the radio and listen to your favorite music
Why do you have to listen to talk shows or commercials? Perhaps because it distracts you from what you are doing and makes the trip more tolerable. But why is driving so awful that you have to distract yourself with something else? Instead, try listening to the sounds of your car, such as the engine, or the noise of the tires on the asphalt (this may also help you spot problems in your car before they get too serious or expensive). Listen to your breathing and your heartbeat. This is a perfect time to learn to enjoy silence, as it is hard to find in our noisy world.
Step 4. Breathe deeply
Feel your stomach rise and fall (with the seat belt fastened!) With each breath. Count every time you inhale and exhale, up to ten. Then start over. This is the basis of zazen (Zen meditation) and will keep you calm.
Step 5. Dissolve
Watch your hands on the wheel. Are they too tight? Release excess tension. You need to have steering wheel control with good grip, but not overdoing it. Then focus on your stomach. Is it tense? Relax it, then relax your shoulders and release the tension elsewhere in your body.
Step 6. Instead of focusing your awareness on speed, observe what surrounds you
You will immediately be more aware of the beauty around you and more alert to various dangers than if you focused on speed or your thoughts. Watch out for the cars around you. How do they drive? Is the person in front of you slowing down? Is the person behind in a hurry? Does the person on your left seem confused or lost?
Step 7. Be grateful
Have you noticed that the car is an incredible machine that facilitates travel? All you have to do is turn the key, hold the steering wheel and press the pedals. Have you noticed that your machine works fine and has no problems? Do you appreciate the fact that not everyone owns a car, or do you consider it as something you owe, as if you were entitled to it? Are you happy to drive on paved and safe roads? Most important: Are you happy that right now you are alive and healthy to drive?
Step 8. Respond to street rage with compassion
People are in a hurry, they are hectic. You've been there too and you know what it's like. It's like it's the end of the world, but it's not. You can increase their suffering or help them. The best way to do this is not to be in their way, safely. Forgive them and don't be swayed by their negativity: why does a stranger have to ruin your trip?
If someone drives near your car, move into the right lane if you are going slower than the traffic ahead, and ignore them. Sometimes people are really in a hurry and are not angry with you. But sometimes they think you deserve their wrath. If you answer them, their aggression will increase and you will find yourself in the middle of a stressful conflict. Ignore them and imagine you can't see them in your mirrors. They can always overtake you. If, on the other hand, the car continues to be close to you, slow down so that it overtakes you
Step 9. Practice kindness
Smile and say hello to other drivers. Let other cars overtake you. If someone is parking, stop and give them enough space. In general, think about how other drivers can make your driving more enjoyable, and do that with other cars!
Step 10. Try hypermiling
It is an excellent method for practicing Zen driving because it is good for the car, the environment and your wallet! It also requires a lot of awareness and patience.
Advice
- Recognize that driving fast doesn't help much. On state roads it is completely useless because everyone stops at the same traffic lights - you could gain 30 seconds if you are lucky. Driving fast and aggressively earns you a maximum of 5 minutes on the freeway. Is it really worth risking fines and accidents to slalom through traffic while looking around for the danger of running into cops?
- Don't get too attached to the car in front of you. On the freeway if you stay away from the car in front of you with a distance of about 10 cars you will hardly ever have to use the brakes. (Or count the time in which the machine in front of you passes the dotted line and when you pass it - 3 seconds is the minimum interval).
Warnings
- Don't let meditation make you ignore what's around you. Focusing on monotonous or repetitive objects such as noises or breathing can be very dangerous when driving, especially if you are tired or on a long journey. Focus on potential hazards, such as distracted cars or inexperienced drivers, animals and children whose unpredictable actions can lead to accidents. Also, keep your eyes peeled for a way out - what would you do if the road were blocked? If you observe other drivers and potential hazards, you will be able to anticipate problems and avoid them.
- Don't completely avoid what's going on behind you. If someone drives very close to your car, move into the right lane and let them pass. If you are on a single lane road, keep a safe distance from the car in front of you, and ignore the car behind driving next to yours. Also remember that perhaps (but most likely not), the person behind you may have an emergency, such as having to take someone to the hospital. It is recommended to run these machines. This will get rid of them and avoid causing anger in other drivers.
