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Small blessings
Kannon
NAMU AMIDA BUTSUAch-To Veteran
I have found throughout my (infantile) spiritual journey that the best teachings and awareness come from the smallest sights and things. In my moms backyard I always see the same 3 birds nests. On my dad's front steps I can see Orion. When I was younger and struggling with the worst of my depression I would always keep an eye out for the first dandelions of the year, ladybugs meandering, children playing carefree, etc etc.
What are some small blessings you have seen lately?
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Comments
For me, the extraordinary is found in exactly all those ordinary things. All of life and the universe is contained within them, which is pretty fascinating.
I endlessly marvel at the precise change of seasons. Right now it is winter here, and the ability of the snow to naturally filter our are is wonderful. The cold, crisp nights allow for perfect start and aurora viewing. I find the simple complexity of a plant coming from a seed to be a wonder to behold every spring. What it has taken for our planet to be what it is is just astounding. But each a tiny, simple "miracle" of wonder itself.
Lately everything has been a masterpiece to me. My cat is a masterpiece. My wife is a masterpiece. I am a masterpiece. Trees are a masterpiece. The beach is a masterpiece.
Well this unusually warm winter is definitely a blessing but on a serious note, I find my practice to be similar to yours. You have shared the simplicity in your practice a few times now and I’m the same in that regard. My small blessings are the sights and sounds when I am mindfully walking around the city. Toronto is a bit of a concrete jungle so I try to take the more green routes so I can enjoy the trees, plants, birds and squirrels running around.
Too many to mention but I went for a walk/shopping. Saw ice, mist on the river, sun, heron, flock of goldfinches, people, children, got free Metro newspaper. Put my gloves away and soon my hands were warm. Must be finger tumo ...
More?
Instead of making herbal tea hot water, no sugar blackcurrent drink with lemon. Very nice. Had a weak coffee and jammy dodger. Supper soon.
Yep just today ... Everything is a blessing. Having a home, clothes, heating. Talking to family, having a camera, Ipad to watch latest news.
You see that old tyre I took a picture of today. Litter in the street? Someone had placed some sort of snack in it ... a blessing for birds and animals seeking winter food ...
I enjoy the seagulls on the beach... now that the weather has turned properly cold there are not so many people, and instead you now see whole flocks of birds sitting in the shallow water preying on shrimps.
These are some awesome blessings, thanks for sharing (: I especially like the tire @lobster, I've always been interested in helping urban wildlife.
As a poet I've found that the best way to appreciate the blessings I see is to write about them. I'll scrounge some up and post them in the poetry thread, then link them here.
What are some small blessings you have seen lately?
-Waking up refreshed...
I see the sea
I see the waves
I see the sky
I see the birds
I see the trees
I see the leaves
I see other sentient beings
I see life doing its own thing
And occasionally I glimpse Buddha Nature
I see form
I see emptiness
Breath is a small blessing (highly recommended in Dharma)
Silence is a great/small blessing.
The capacity and inclination to be kind is ... wait just a minute ... there are no small blessings [lobster faints]
Air to breathe!
Socks!
A pot to piss in and a window to throw it out of...haaaa
there are no small blessings...love it @lobster !
Window? Luxury!
Yep time for a reminder from the four Yorkshiremen ...
My four year old son loves a cuddle and I am affectionate too. When he stays with me my favourite part of the day is the fifteen minutes or so first thing upon waking when he curls up in my lap and cuddles me.
Sometimes he even falls asleep again.
It's lovely!
I am making sure I appreciate it while it lasts.
Humour. Humour is a blessing ...
We have had snow every day for the past several days. Usually we think of snow as softly falling fluff. But when you remember snow is really tiny bits of ice, it makes music when it falls. We had some of that lovely snow globe type of snow yesterday, and I stood outside for a long time, sitting in the snowbank, listening to it fall. It sounds like tiny crystals as it falls through the sleeping tree branches. It's quite amazing. The soundscape of our world is amazing.
Our yard this morning
I met my beautiful & precious niece for the first time this weekend...that's my partner holding her, although you can't really see
Beautiful @Tigger
Naaaw @Tigger she's adorbs
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