more on patience

a while ago, i had read a story about a zen master who once asked his disciple to get him a glass of water. the disciple, in his rush to address his master's need, ran out the door allowing it to slam shut. when he returned with the water, his master asked him why he had let the door slam shut behind him. he replied that it was to get the master the water as quickly as he could. the master pointed out to the disciple that he had omitted to be mindful in his urge to please the master, and thus failed his lesson.

the story (paraphrased here) has reiterated itself in my head a million times. in fact, each time i find myself consciously at a door, i think of the story and ask myself if i am being mindful as i open/close this door. but it isn't just about doors, it's also about keys, books, computers, cooking vessels, clothes, what have you. mindfulness, in using these items, or transfering them from one place to another, translates to being gentle and cognizant towards the nature of the object. most, if not all, objects of daily use require little force in order to fulfill their function and our needs.

in this post, i had written about patience - towards ourselves, others, and the world. i now add these objects to the list. i find it necessary to treat even the inanimate objects around me with love and gentleness. some peace within is lost when i hear a door slam behind me, or when i am too hasty with washing the dishes, or when i chance to toss my keys onto the bed. i wonder if it all ties in with a sense of gratitude toward the world, the gifts that we are given. that they are not ours forever, but while they are, we must tend to them with care. like a library book that we read, careful not to injure it any way, before we return it in (almost) the condition that we found it.

i find that the more i think, the more i am aware, and the more i am aware, the more avenues i allow for love and peace to flow into my world. i share some of these insights with you to take a chance at igniting a thought process that you may find similarly rewarding.