November 6, 2024

After Enlightenment, Then Laundry






In the world of buddhism, there's a saying that states, "after enlightenment, the laundry." 

It’s a reminder that the journey toward clarity and inner peace doesn’t end with a single moment. 

Instead of being an endpoint, it is just the beginning, continuing into everyday life and encompassing the quiet, repetitive tasks that anchor us all.

When we aim for a minimalist, nature-connected existence, it’s easy to think we’re aiming for perfection: a life free from mess, complication, and distraction.

But true simplicity isn’t about escaping life’s tasks; it’s about seeing them differently. 

After all, the laundry, the dishes, the sweeping - whatever chores fill our days -won't disappear simply because we’ve cultivated a peaceful mindset. What changes is the way we approach them.

When I wash clothes I don't see it as a mundane job to “get done” but as an opportunity, a ritual, a moment to practice mindfulness. 

I feel the texture of the fabric, the coolness of water, and the joy of going outside to hang clean clothes on the line while visiting with the blue jays and juncos in the trees around me. 

When it is done, I appreciate the simplicity of clean, folded piles of cloth. Every step in this process is an invitation for me to stay present, and finding meaning in the mundane.

First enlightenment, then laundry reminds us that peace doesn’t reside only in moments of meditation and stillness. 

True peace lives in carrying out each small daily task gently, grace. 

So, as we seek simplicity, let’s find enlightenment in each chore, embracing the little moments that connect us to ourselves and our world.

Then we see that perhaps the enlightenment has been there all along, waiting for us to let go and take notice.






5 comments:

  1. Anonymous11/06/2024

    This is such a wonderful reflection, Gregg and Linda. It changes my entire outlook and disposition when I view household tasks or any activity as ‘get tos’ and not ‘must dos/have tos.’
    It’s not - I have to wash dishes…it is: I get to wash and put away the dishes and even enjoy the process!
    I recall my favorite playtime as a child was when my Mom filled the kitchen sink with soapy water and I got to wash the cups and make a bubbly mess. I played for hours! Imagine if I took such joy from getting to do my dishes after every meal!

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    1. Anonymous11/07/2024

      Be not childish, but child-like. We definitely are in danger of losing something as we age if we forget our innocent, joyful approach to life that we had as children. To continue to see the world through the eyes of childhood is indeed a gift. Add that to the wisdom of adulthood and it is a pleasant combination that can make the most of every moment.

      - Gregg

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  2. 1000% agreement. As we (household of two) have had to shift through some difficult family times (aging parent at the top of that list), I have come to view the household "chores" as true opportunities to slow, embrace the moment, and center myself.

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  3. Anonymous11/07/2024

    I’ve really grown to love doing the laundry - especially the folding. It calms me down and gives me space to daydream. I hope to apply that outlook to all my chores. Peace, Erin

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  4. Ooh, I don't enjoy household chores... but I do them with the result in mind. Once the tedious work is done you can look in satisfaction on mess out of the way. And then have space/time for other things. Your reflection helped to realize that once more.

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