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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Its ‘Love Thursday’ again! Here is my picture for today - it is the very first (and my very favorite) poem K1 wrote for me “way back when”. He wrote it on post-it notes… everyone say ‘AWWWWWWW!’
“Naked Heart”
There’s a quiet place
I go when I’m alone.
I’m there, missing you,
wishing to hear you on the phone.
Your voice takes me to another place,
where kisses fall like rain,
and hugs around every corner
take away all my pain.
I wish I could be there always,
dancing nekkid under the stars.
The nights I would seduce you slowly
and all moments would be ours.
I’d give you all your favorite things
just to see a smile;
find the places I love you most
and linger for a while.
This heaven that I dream of
can never really be,
but every time I think of you
It’s very real for me.
My heart thinks of you and hurts inside
to know you can’t be mine.
Such sweet pain is your love,
Heaven and Hell - combined.
But
Please know I’ll never choose
to lose one bit of you.
I want it all, the hurt and joy
like yin and yang, entwined all through.
I care for you more than I can know,
And I’ll be yours - always.
© K1 Billings 2000
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