Peace and Joy
in the
Present Moment
especially when
washing the dishes.
"To my mind, the idea that doing dishes is unpleasant can occur only when you aren't doing them. Once you are standing in front of the sink with your sleeves rolled up and your hands in the warm water, it is really quite pleasant. I enjoy taking my time with each dish, being fully aware of the dish, the water, and each movement of my hands. I know that if I hurry in order to eat dessert sooner, the time of washing dishes will be unpleasant and not worth living. That would be a pity, for each minute, each second of life is a miracle. The dishes themselves and the fact that I am here washing them are miracles!
If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have dessert, I will be equally incapable of enjoying my dessert. With the fork in my hand, I will be thinking about what to do next, and the texture and flavor of the dessert, together with the pleasure of eating it, will be lost. I will always be dragged into the future, never able to live in the present moment.
Each thought, each action in the sunlight of awareness becomes sacred. In this light, no boundary exists between the sacred and the profane. I must confess it takes me a bit longer to do the dishes, but I live fully in every moment, and I am happy. Washing the dishes is at the same time a means and an end--that is, not only do we do the dishes in order to have clean dishes, we also do the dishes, to live fully in each moment while washing them."
"Peace is Every Step - The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life," by Thich Nhat Hanh
Somehow I never connected the label on the Joy dishwashing soap as an idea to focus on as I washed the dishes. After I read this passage in Thich Nhat Hanh's book about Mindfulness, I have been able to think more about the peacefulness of doing the dishes. As a teenager, my brother and sister and I had to do the dishes together. It was one of those chores that was intended to teach us responsibility, cleanliness and camaraderie. I have memories of sibling arguing during those dishwashing times. As an adult, I look back on those times as a time of sharing the work of life. Now I am thankful when there is someone to help me with the dishes. Many times I am even more thankful to do the dishes myself, because Al has cooked us a delicious dinner and I am happy to do the dishes as my share in the evening responsibilities.
I wish you peace and joy, in the present moment, as you do the dishes.
Photo: Joy dishwashing liquid at Lighthouse Beach - 11/11/07
5 comments:
Hi Pati,
Seems like its been too long since I've visited your blog and it's nice to be back and thinking about what you offer.
So yes, I will slow down as I wash my dishes tonight. I don't ever have too many. Myself, Tuvia but it's the experience to consider.
I think too that this will make a great prompt for our upcoming Summer Institute "writing into the day".
Bonnie
Heh-heh...this is such a great post and fun, too. Dishwashing and I have a loooooong history. It is what I did for my very first job (at age 12), the chore I had at home (though automatic dishwashers were the rage, Mom and Dad resisted), and something I do when I'm upset, now. I love to get lost in the wash (the water is soothing, the noise is subtle, the dishes go from dirty to sparkling). Plus, have you ever noticed how beautiful the bubbles are? (I know, I sound crazy. But, it really can be an amazing activity!)
I agree Pati - I too enjoy doing dishes as long as I have enough of the right soap and my gloves and a few minutes of peace. It's amazing how anything can be enjoyable once "embraced" with an open mind.
Lovely post, Pati. And you've not only got 'joy' to focus on ... you've got 'ultra-concentrated joy,' right there in a bottle! The words in the quote really resonated with me. I actually have exactly the same feeling about doing the dishes. I'll put it off as if it were a root canal, but as soon as I start, I am in the moment, enjoying getting things clean, enjoying the heat of the water and the feeling of productivity ... even when there's no dessert waiting at the end, I enjoy getting the dishes washed.
--Stacie
I LOVE this photo and your accompanying thoughts, Pati.
Thanks for this today.
~jane
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