Chop Wood, Carry Water, and the Benefit of Being Present

“Before Enlightenment chop wood and carry water. After Enlightenment chop wood and carry water.” Zen Koan

    I was pushing a cart today helping out a co-worker, and the thought crept up from behind. The simple act of helping my co-worker made me feel better than I had all day. Finding this simple gesture more re-warding than fixing another system or overcoming some insurmountable obstacle, this felt more rewarding. 

Marcus Aurelius said to “Accept whatever comes to you woven in pattern of your destiny, for what could more aptly fit your needs?” The perspective that your current situation whether small, large, or everything in-between is where you are meant to be vibes with some people, and not others. Which is fair. But I posit that most of us don’t really take into account the luck we have at this current moment. That our very breath means we are still in the game, and that there is still more to do even if it’s just to be present.

    As the Zen Koan goes “Before Enlightenment chop wood and carry water. After Enlightenment chop wood and carry water.” Whether it’s pushing a cart for a co-worker or enjoying dinner with your family or furry companion the current moment is there and being witness to it frees us from the tragedy of fixating over what we cannot control.

Blog post: https://discipula.blog/2020/01/15/chop-wood-carry-water-and-the-benefit-of-being-present/

Submitted January 16, 2020 at 06:05AM by LTrefradbruh https://ift.tt/2FVJ6OC