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Peace Is Every Step
By Thich Nhat Hanh
Washing Dishes
To my mind, the idea that doing dishes is unpleasant can occur only when you
aren't doing them. Once you are standing in front of the sink with your sleeves
rolled up and your hands in the warm water, it is really quite pleasant. I enjoy
taking my time with each dish, being fully aware of the dish, the water, and
each movement of my hands. I know that if I hurry in order to eat dessert sooner,
the time of washing dishes will be unpleasant and not worth living. That would
be a pity, for each minute, each second of life is a miracle. The dishes themselves
and the fact that I am here washing them are miracles!
If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have dessert, I will be equally incapable of enjoying my dessert. With the fork in my hand, I will be thinking about what to do next, and the texture and flavor of the dessert, together with the pleasure of eating it, will be lost. I will always be dragged into the future, never able to live in the present moment.
Each thought, each action in the sunlight of awareness becomes sacred. In this light, no boundary exists between the sacred and the profane. I must confess it takes me a bit longer to do the dishes, but I live fully in every moment, and I am happy. Washing the dishes is at the same time a means and an end--that is, not only do we do the dishes in order to have clean dishes, we also do the dishes just to do the dishes, to live fully in each moment while washing them.
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