The Dharma of Disturbances

Shooting baskets
Shooting baskets

Something found:

Never organize what you can discard.

I’d replace ‘discard’ with ‘let go of’. No doubt the quote is intended to address the perennial problem of clutter. An encouraging thought and a direction to take for the popular past time of de-cluttering and its companion minimalism in all its forms. But I’ll take this quote out of the external world and into the internal, reflective realm of meditation and contemplation. Both formal zazen and everyday meditation.

Yes obviously it is necessary to organise our thoughts and feelings, to get our ducks in a row for all sorts of practical reasons. However I’d like to suggest that its worth questioning oneself as to just HOW necessary it is. For what purpose? Truthfully.

Yes sometimes posts here can disturb and be thought-provoking with little offered in terms of answers. I’d like to suggest that it is the disturbance itself rather than the thoughts provoked which can be usefully ‘let go of’. Just a thought.

Quickly forget those Jade Mountains posts! Come back soon.

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4 thoughts on “The Dharma of Disturbances”

    1. That yes in terms of it being something one ‘does’. But what I am trying to point out, as you realise I am sure, is there is a major tendency for all of us is to first think something through i.e. get ones head straight and only then walk away/let go/let it be…

    1. Glad you saw that Shelley. This picture taken in 2001 in Tucson Arizona has always tickled me. I had wondered if anybody else saw what I saw. I’m particularly please to have this comment confirming it’s not just me who sees them prickly players getting ready to jump.

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