Today in Intercultural Studies class I shared some famous passages from the manual Thich Nhat Hanh wrote for Vietnamese social workers back in the 1970s. If you are familiar with this Zen Master, you may remember “washing the dishes to wash the dishes” and eating a tangerine one section at a time.
My students had already been introduced to the Japanese practice of Naikan, adapted for the course by writing in a notebook and becoming adept at responding to three questions vis-à-vis an important person in one’s life—What have I received from him? What have I given to her? What troubles and difficulties have I caused them?
Many of our most happily memorable experiences are when we’ve given to others our mindful presence and when we’ve received other’s mindful presence. Likewise, we wince when we think of those (many?) times we have caused trouble or difficulty to someone by our lack of mindful attention—our unskillful action, unskillful speech, and unskillful thinking.
I remember Thomas Merton claiming that the spiritual life (the mindful life) is simple, not complicated. But it is difficult.
Nhat Hanh ends his manual with a story by Tolstoy, based, like Naikan, on three questions: What is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times? See, very simple.
I think it may be a good time this spring to invite some friends to revisit this manual and rededicate ourselves to the miracle-making of being awake, being present, and being available.
Title is taken from Nhat Hanh, The Miracle of Mindfulness.
Photo: Chris Wallach’s Fenton farmhouse road.
