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Simple Joys
lobster
Crusty Veteran
Simple things can bring intense enjoyment as we become more aware in our practice. For me today, seeing the sunrise, golden. Giving directions to a stranger. Company. Food. Walking whilst breath counting. Sandalwood incense. Music. Rain outside and thunder . . . so many things to enjoy . . .
What simple things do you enjoy?
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What simple things do you enjoy?
:thumbsup:
3
Comments
Hot tea with milk.
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...
Compared to how I lived 5-6 years ago I am really simple and mellow, almost in need of a walking stick in comparison. I enjoy peace and solitude, a warm shower even though it is hot every day, gazing at the stars and a blanket to curl up under at night.
I wonder how many of these simple joys we experience in life contain attachment? I have not really investigated attachment to pleasures recently, I assume that I have been plodding along ignorant to most of them. So on that note I guess I have some observing to do!
I enjoy hearing my children play together and still have fun and laugh, especially because they are 16, 10 and 4...and finding things they all enjoy can be a trick sometimes.
I enjoy being able to get into bed and the shower without needing help, because when you can't, it kind of stinks. I appreciate mobility much more than I used to.
If I don't toss and turn too much, if I fall asleep face-down, he'll jump on my back and sleep on my back all night. Sometimes, face-to-face beside me. When he has to go poop or pee during the night, he knows to leave the bed, wipe himself off (with a pad that I provide for him), or eat something (whatever he wants) and jump back on the bed. Every morning at the crack of dawn, before the sky becomes fully lit by the sun, he wakes me up with either a barrage of kisses to my face, neck, or feet.
Sometimes, I want to break his neck; sometimes I want to get rid of him (if he chews through a laptop cord or something), but of course, I never do. I couldn't. We've had our fights, our skirmishes...but we're always best friends in the end. I rescued him when he was only three or four weeks old (the owners were going to euthanize him if they couldn't get rid of him, and no one wanted him because of how hyper he was), and having him as a friend has been a wonderful test of my patience and an excellently unorthodox method of conquering my anger issues.
I used to get particularly angry with him because he would pee on the floor every time I walked through the door. I hated him for it, because I'd always have to clean it up, but until my girlfriend (at the time) took note that he's just an excited little bugger, who loves me so much that he pees out of sheer excitement whenever I come home. After testing her theory, I realized it was true.
It's ironic, because, the dog is a killer. By just playing with me, he's unintentionally poked holes straight through my hand and left a multitude of scars (one even on my face) from just general rough housing that dogs like him do, and I've seen him man-handle the other dogs in the street (some were brothers from the litter from whence he was born).
The simple thing in my life that I enjoy the most is having my dog. His presence robs me of my tendency to be cold and methodical, and replaces it with a reason to smile. Girls come and go, but he is the true first member of my family.
Life without it was NOT simple...but
being without it, taught me more about
simplicity than I could have learned otherwise.
Friday nights when I can relax knowing I have the whole weekend ahead of me.
Riding the shuttle bus from the parking garage to my work in the morning (I have no idea why this should be enjoyable, but it is).
And my dog has the cutest paws -- white, and very furry, and freckley.
Seeing the fascination with which my newborn son sees the world.
The unique benefit of practice is the increase of well being in more situations. I have given developed practitioners very small things: a candle, an open door, an empty box and their delight is wondrous and a joy. As we travel through our life, we can search for joy, without clinging.
One of the greatest joys is generosity. Strangely the poor gift from one free of clinging is more joyful in the giving and receiving, than the rich but baggage restrained, pained unburdening of the well endowed (if you will pardon the expression) . . .
So joy is not something we take from life. It is something we give life to . . .
The pleasure of seeing old friends and colleagues return to the forum.