We all are overloaded with things to do every day - creating meals to feed our families, making sure everyone has clean clothes, arranging sports, play dates, music lessons...the list goes on and on.
One way to take advantage of these daily chores is to view them a bit differently. I used to loathe doing the dishes. At times, I'd even be frustrated by the constant cooking of meals, even though I love cooking.
Then, I read a book by the Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, in which he talked about meditating while doing dishes. Carefully washing each dish, and thinking about the dish, and being present in the dish washing - all tenets of Buddhism and meditation - make perfect sense. This book, Peace is Every Step, is full of short essays on how to bring calmness and meditation into your life with minimum effort, but maximum benefits.
Now, when I wash the dishes several times a day (eschewing the dishwasher), I take my time. I notice the beauty of the bubbles, the fresh air around me as I look out the open window and watch the sun in the trees, and the uniqueness of each dish. When I'm done? Not so stressed out, or ready to move on to the next thing - just a sense of peace, and of living in the present.
Besides Peace is Every Step, Thich Nhat Hanh has many, many books about Buddhism and meditation in every day life. Another one which I've enjoyed is entitled Being Peace.
Jessie - What a great way to combine washing up and meditation. It will change the way I think about doing the dishes and the books you suggest look very interesting.
You're right, Gill. Often I forget, but when I do remember, it makes things go so much more lovingly.
Jessie Voigts
Publisher, http://www.wanderingeducators.com