There is a Zen saying, \u201cBefore enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019m definitely in the \u2018before enlightenment\u2019 state of things, and most definitely lately. I feel further away from anything spiritually meaningful than I have in a while. I\u2019m tired, getting over some sort of mild virus, and likely swinging on the swing set of hormones. While I usually have a strong container for dealing with news and the internet, the last few says have felt particularly overwhelming. It feels like the few are eager to make a quick buck off the backs of the many. If it\u2019s not the confusion and atrocities of Syria or the targeting of Coptic Christians in Egypt breaking my heart, it\u2019s the continued melting of the ice caps, destruction of bee colonies, or systematic reduction of access to affordable and relevant healthcare for the poor, the marginalized and\/or women in the US. How can we continue to poison one another, in body, mind, and spirit??<\/p>\n
What\u2019s a person to do? I neither want to stick my head in the sand, nor do I want to freak out from overstimulation. I don\u2019t want to ignore the suffering of others, but I also don\u2019t believe that I have the power to make the change I want to see. I cannot single-handedly affect policy in the Middle East, save innocents from drones, or abolish contaminants in our water,plastics and food. While I do my best to make the healthiest choices for my family that I can, I don\u2019t think I can avoid all toxins, nor do I completely believe that we, as a society, can shop our way to change.<\/p>\n
Again I ask, what\u2019s a person to do?<\/p>\n
Chop wood, carry water.<\/p>\n
I accept that I\u2019m overwhelmed, that for whatever reason, my boundaries are lower today. I remind myself that usually I have good perspective and that whatever I\u2019m feeling will pass and my perspective will return. I make sure I\u2019m eating something healthy (not falling onto my stand-bys of milky tea or coffee). I focus on my chores. I move my body and do one thing that I have to do anyway. I sit in front of my altar, even though it seems pointless in this mood.<\/p>\n
What do you know? I\u2019m less cranky after sitting. Even a pouty puja is better than no puja at all. After my chores I feel a little stronger, a little more focused. I know that it\u2019s a mere semblance of control. By tomorrow this clean living room will be dusty and cluttered and crumbed once more. And that\u2019s ok. Every day the water needs to be carried.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s how I\u2019m feeling this week. If the wise ones are to believed, I may feel this way at times even after enlightenment. Good thing I\u2019m getting good at chopping wood and carrying water.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There is a Zen saying, \u201cBefore enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.\u201d I\u2019m definitely in the \u2018before enlightenment\u2019 state of things, and most definitely lately. I feel further away from anything spiritually meaningful than I have in a while. I\u2019m tired, getting over some sort of mild virus, and likely […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1300,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,36,42,46,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1459","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-family-life","category-my-heart","category-paganism","category-practice","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n