Society mired in entertainment and distraction. Cellphones glued to ears as listeners stumble around oblivious to all. Music blasting from cars (can there be anything more annoying than rap/hip hop?). So what is a mindful boy to do?

A little bit from Thich Nhat Hanh:

I remember a short conversation between the Buddha and a philosopher of his time.
"I have heard that Buddhism is a doctrine of enlightenment. What is your method? What do you practice every day?"
"We walk, we eat, we wash ourselves, we sit down."
"What is so special about that? Everyone walks, eats, washes, sits down . . ."
"Sir, when we walk, we are aware that we are walking; when we eat, we are aware that we are eating. . . . When others walk, eat, wash, or sit down, they are generally not aware of what they are doing."

In Buddhism, mindfulness is the key. Mindfulness is the energy that sheds light on all things and activities, producing the power of concentration, bringing forth deep insight and awakening. Mindfulness is at the base of all Buddhist practice."

Mindfulness needs, if not silence, then a reasonably quiet space for concentration. Our gadgets, our games, our blasters, our tweeters, and our televisions in every room, all build a wall between us and mindfulness. Alas, is there no going back?