“Sometimes it happens that you become one, in some rare moment. Watch the ocean, the tremendous wildness of it–and suddenly you forget your split, your schizophrenia; you relax. Or, moving in the Himalayas, seeing the virgin snow on the Himalayan peaks, suddenly a coolness surrounds you and you need not be false because there is no other human being to be false to. You fall together. Or, listening to beautiful music, you fall together. Whenever, in whatsoever situation, you become one, a peace, a happiness, a bliss, surrounds you, arises in you. You feel fulfilled. There is no need to wait for these moments–these moments can become your natural life. These extraordinary moments can become ordinary moments – that is the whole effort of Zen. You can live an extraordinary life in a very ordinary life: cutting wood, chopping wood, carrying water from the well, you can be tremendously at ease with yourself. Cleaning the floor, cooking food, washing the clothes, you can be perfectly at ease–because the whole question is of you doing your action totally, enjoying, delighting in it.”
Osho Dang Dang Doko Dang Chapter 3
I love this card from the Osho Zen Tarot deck. It has a powerful message, which fits perfectly with how I’m feeling right now. We live in a beautiful, magical, wondrous world, although we so often take this world for granted.
It also illustrates the benefit of making each day a meditation- of giving our full attention to whatever task we are performing, no matter how mundane. There is still beauty and wonder to be had in the most ordinary of moments.
Today, why not make a list of some of your most mundane and ordinary Blessings. There is no need to wait for something extraordinary to happen to us.
There is a great magic in the ordinary once we open our eyes.
Here’s my list, a task made much easier after our recent days without power while we are flooded in here at our farm. I look forward to hearing about your lists too…
1. Electric Light. The magic of flicking a switch and having your world illuminated is pretty cool. Plus you can stay up past sunset much more easily without bumping into furniture. Also makes night reading a breeze!
2. Washing machine. Pop the dirty clothes in, press a button and they come out clean a little while later. No beating sheets on rocks in streams, no mangles and hand wringers. It’s a five minute job. And as an added bonus, the smell of clean clothes, fresh from the line after hanging in the sunshine.
3. Refrigerator. It keeps my drinks cold, my food fresh, and stops bugs getting in my condiments. It is also a thing of wonder to stand in front of when you are experiencing an enschnackelation attack and have no idea what you feel like eating. The little light comes on and all your choices are laid out before you, shelf by shelf.
4. Hot showers. Soul soothing, and excellent for washing away the grime of the day. Oh the blessings of internal plumbing and hot water are immeasurable!
5. The internet. Blog, facebook, emails and being able to stay in touch around the world or google anything I please, whenever I so desire. Site I missed most during our blackout? BOM – the weather radar site from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology! Hands down winner. Who doesn’t want to know where their extreme weather event is coming from, what it looks like, and just what to expect?
6. Computer. A magical box that holds the entire contents of my brain, the rough drafts of all my books, the pictures that tell the story of my life, and then some…
7. Toaster. Bread goes in. Toast comes out. ‘Mazing!
8. Juicer. Turns mountains of fruit and vegetables into tasty, health-giving beverages.
9. Mobile Phone. Charge it up, carry it around, and you have the world in your pocket, plus a handy camera!
10. Coffee machines. Whether it’s a stovetop espresso maker or a full-blown barrista’s coffee shop dream, seriously these should be considered a wonder of the modern world.
And my personal favourite through these long electricity-free days? The humble battery-powered transistor radio. Special mention to ABC Radio for superlative coverage of unfolding local events and all sorts of other listening pleasures.
