“Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.”
—Zen Proverb
In any kind of spiritual practice, whether that be prayer, routine meditation or silent retreat, we might glean sudden wisdom or understanding for something that previously had us feeling stuck.
No matter how profound the discovery, life will give way to the usual mundane needs: preparing a meal, chopping wood, carrying water, answering emails, etc. While we might desire a radical shift or change to arise naturally from a new understanding or realization, we are met with the much more difficult task of integrating our learning, bit by bit, into our lives.
In this way, enlightenment does not occur on the top of a mountain, remote from our lives. It shows itself with a much more steady and constant light on our everyday life, as we take what we know and incorporate it into who we are and what we do. From the outside, we are doing the same-old tasks, but they are in a way transformed as much as we are.
Suggested practice: When you go about your day, try to bring the wisdom and grace of your full presence into that activity, whether that be taking a walk, washing the dishes or doing the laundry. What does it feel like to both see and accept things as they are while also bringing the fullness of your own presence to that same moment?
—Jessica Lien, Prairiewoods development coordinator