The Practice: Simplicity
“The things that matter most in our lives are not fantastic or grand. They are the moments when we touch another, when we are there in a most attentive way.”
Daily Practice and Reflection:
Can simplicity bring us a greater sense of happiness? Can reconnecting with the simple things in our lives actually make it more meaningful? Do we overlook our daily interactions in the continual search of the extraordinary? What would happen if we instead gave a little extra to our attention, placed a little more emphasis on the ordinary and simple things in our lives? Would this extra ordinary attention bring us more joy and contentment by focusing on what’s already here, what is already present?
Some of my favorite definitions of happiness have the flavor of contentment through the lens of simplicity: the sensing that nothing is missing from our lives, a sense of not needing anything else. How beautiful this can be and yet how challenging amidst all our societal conditionings.
During the pandemic, many of us have been forced into a more simplistic lifestyle, our normal way of busying/ distracting ourselves were taken away from us. For me, this simplistic lifestyle, slowing down, being home more and not doing as much “out there” brought forth a sense of ease that I hadn’t experienced in quite some time. And in doing so, I felt a renewed sense of joy in the simplest acts, the privilege of walking outside and being in nature, listening to a birdsong, or slowing down and simply being fully present with my daughters, available for meaningful conversations or laughter. This simplicity provided me with contentment that had often being overlooked during my pre-covid hurried life.
And yes, there is the acknowledgement of privilege in this simplicity over the last two years. But with that, we have been presented with an opportunity to see our lives through fresh eyes and noticing the many things we have simply taken for granted. Rather than living out of habit, we can remember what matters most, taking the time to enjoy the simple pleasure of life rather than hurriedly chasing after something extraordinary. We can rediscover the familiar, a newer version, a freshness about our lives through this simple extra ordinary attention.
“If you look through eyes of openness and freshness, you will see goodness in whatever you do. You just haven’t allowed yourself to see it before.”
Meditation Practice:
“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
“Once you realize that the road is the goal and that you are always on the road, not to reach a goal, but to enjoy its beauty and its wisdom, life ceases to be a task and becomes natural and simple, in itself an ecstasy.”
“Slowly, slowly the weight shifts. Then the weight shifts just enough so that there is a slight predominance on the center of the wheel, and we find that we naturally just want to sit down and be quiet, that we don’t have to say, “I’ve got to meditate now,” or “I’ve got to read a holy book,” or “I’ve got to turn off the television set,” or “I’ve got to do…” anything. It doesn’t become that kind of a discipline anymore. The balance has shifted. And we keep allowing our lives to become more and more simple, more and more harmonious. And less and less are we grabbing at this and pushing that away.”