Like most desks, mine can be chaotic - often covered with my son’s artwork and homework assignments, cluttered with work projects, post-it notes reminding me of errands, phone numbers and important dates, and piles of unopened mail. At my desk I organize my family, sustain my lifestyle, enjoy my hobbies, communicate with friends…
… and find a little Zen in my life.
On one small corner of an otherwise overwhelmed (and underpaid) desk, is my little corner of Zen. I find calm in (fleeting) moments of mediation when my eyes glance toward my favorite and most prized Buddha in my collection.
In these moments, I’m also reminded in subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) ways what the Buddha taught:
The Buddha taught that life was inherently dukkha (suffering), that it is caused by tanha (craving), but that this condition was curable by following the Noble Eightfold Path [by understanding] The Four Noble Truths.
1. Life is suffering (to live is to suffer).
2. The origin of suffering (in life we seek to discover the origin of our suffering).
3. The cessation of suffering (once the origin is discovered, we seek to cease our suffering).
4. The way to the cessation of suffering is by following the Noble Eightfold Path.
So, while I’m ’suffering’ through piles of bills, loads of paperwork and an email in-box that never seems satisfied, I’m constantly reminded by my little corner of desktop Zen that this is what life is all about - for in everything there is a reason, even in ’suffering’ through a desk-full of confusion. Life is about taking the the good with the bad, the suffering with the rewards - “like yin and yang, entwined all through“.
BTW - I’m not a practicing Buddhist (I’m interested and intrigued by the concepts) so feel free if you are Buddhist and wish correct me if I’ve misunderstand the Buddha’s basic teachings. I’m here to learn (in life and in all ways.)
P.S. Yes, I also realize I’m not so wordless on this Wordless Wednesday.
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I’m glad this was explained…
As seen in Moab, UT 2008/08/11
Photo credit to Sintax who is currently on a cross-country bike ride from CA to CO and back.
Wordless Wednesday
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The Kidlet was excited to give me his little gift this morning. More than anything else, he was proud of the care he took wrapping it. He spent at least 5 solid minutes describing the method he used to cut and wrap the paper and use the scissors to curl the ribbon.
I think it’s the most beautifully wrapped gift I’ve ever gotten - because it’s from him.
The Kidlet made today, my 32nd birthday, happy.
More Wordless Wednesday here.
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