sacred threads ~ say ‘hello’ to this moment
Posted by Melanie on May 19, 2010 in sacred threads, Uncategorized | 5 commentsThich Nhat Hanh, a contemporary Buddhist monk, writes with great elegance of the joy to be found in bringing our awareness to the present moment. He encourages us to be so completely immersed in the task at hand that it becomes to us the most important thing in our life.
He writes, “While washing the dishes, you might be thinking about the tea afterwards, and so try to get them out of the way as quickly as possible in order to sit and drink tea. But that means that you are incapable of living during the time you are washing the dishes. When you are washing the dishes, washing the dishes must be the most important thing in your life. Just as when you’re drinking tea, drinking tea must be the most important thing in your life.” (Miracle of Mindfulness, p. 24)
With such great beings as Brother Lawrence, and our own contemporaries, such as Thich Nhat Hanh, we are in good company in our search for the Truth. It is through the glimpses of the Divine that philosophers, poets and saints have experienced and shared that we find assurance that such a search is not in vain.
From their yearning to know Truth, they seem to have attained great understanding and found their way Home. It is our good fortune that they left many clues on the path. The reverence with which they approached the moments of their lives, continue to inspire seekers today.
Such seekers seem (for who among us truly knows the experience of another) to deliberately approach life with an appreciation of the uniqueness of each moment, each circumstance, each person.
We, too, can let each moment become a moment of deliberate, conscious living. We, too, can learn, with practice, patience, and perseverance, to greet the Presence in the present and welcome that formless Presence regardless of the form. We, too, can let each moment’s experience become a way of seeking out Presence and open to that experience whole-heartedly. Even the joys and the sorrows, opening to what is present.
Not one of us escapes heart-ache and truly not one of us lives every single moment in that kind of pain. It seems that in opening to be with what is as it is, ‘what is’ seems to change. All this to say, say ‘hello’ to this moment with your whole heart.
Yes, I’m convinced that teaching my leaders more about being present – and leading us in a way that makes us love being in their presence – is the answer to the debilitating judgment that makes much of the workplace such an unrewarding life to live.
So then why do I struggle so much with being present myself? You have reminded me that I’m in this struggle both as student and teacher; maybe I should say ‘as student and then teacher.’
Thanks Melanie,
Jeff
Nice post Melanie! Because life just swallows me up sometimes, I find it really hard to just say “hello” to the moment because I’m already looking at the next moment and how I need to react to it.
I’ll take your advice and really work toward opening to each moment.
Terri
This thing about staying in the present moment is so critical, yet in this particular culture we just are not taught about it at all….we have a thing for the nostalgia of the past, and we have a thing about the next hot thing in the future. It’s telling to me that it is easier for me to stay in the moment when I am out of the country. Lots to practice here at home.
Sue Painter
This is a never ending practice. I find that my list is so long some days that I am rushing through life to finish my list. I am currently practicing this when I am with my son. I know that if I don’t he will be grown, out of my home and I will be left wondering where the time went….
Jeff – I love the student – teacher – student – teacher play. It sure keeps me in life long learning. And I agree with Dr. Jennifer on this, it is a life long practice. So, it seems to me that being a life long learning engaging in a life long practice is not a bad way to spend my time playing here on earth
And, Sue, I agree, there does seem to be something about this culture that gets us all wound up. When I’ve traveled and lived in other countries, it’s quite different. Yet, I also think this is an all too human trait – getting caught up in rushing, in doing, in craving, in resisting – all leading us out of this moment like a pied piper!