In honor of Thich Nhat Hanh’s birthday month I am sharing aspects of his teachings that will make you think and may just change the way you live. Today I am thinking about present moment awareness, or what the Buddhists call “mindfulness.” Here are Thay’s own words about an action we all take in the Fall—raking the leaves.

“In autumn I like to rake the leaves at my hermitage at Plum Village [France]. I do it every three days or so, using a rake. . . . Raking the leaves is not simply to have a clean path to jog or walk along: raking the leaves is just to enjoy raking the leaves. So I hold the rake in such a way that makes me feel happy, peaceful, and solid during the whole time of raking. I want to ensure every movement is an act of enlightenment, an act of joy, and an act of peace. So I am not in a hurry because I see that the very act of raking is at least as wonderful as having a clean path. I would not be satisfied with anything less than that. . . . If you make one stroke in such a way that you are fully invested in the act of raking leaves, then you will be rewarded right away.” -Thich Nhat Hanh, At Home in the World

I get the idea from reading this that Thay was struggling with something that we all encounter—making meaning out of those tasks that we must do in order to get to the activities we want to do. When we carry out a task with this mindset—that we must it get done quickly so we can do something else we value more—then both actions, the thing we have to do and the thing we want to do, are diminished somehow. Certainly the first task is diminished because we don’t like it or appreciate it. But the second activity is also diminished because it is not long before we are looking forward to what is coming next. Will it be even better than what we have now?

Here is the secret to living so that “every movement is an act of enlightenment, an act of joy, and an act of peace”:

Assume the attitude that every action is important and bring complete awareness to each one

What are those tasks that are difficult for you? Mine are the household routines of doing laundry, cleaning the cat boxes and loading the dishwasher. Today I will “hold the rake in such a way that makes me feel happy, peaceful, and solid during the whole time of raking.” Will you join me?

I have been a student of Thich Nhat Hanh for decades. The Zen Buddhist monk from Vietnam is now in his 90s and is well-known for his teachings on mindfulness. He offers many different sayings called gathas that can be used at varying times throughout the day. I love this one for the morning. Perhaps you would enjoy memorizing it and saying it to yourself upon rising:
 
“Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.”
 
“Waking up”: You are alive! This is a wonderful and glorious thing. Because you are alive, everything is possible.
 
“I smile”: How amazing to greet the day with joy rather than dread, fear, sadness, hopelessness or disgust. Be a person who spreads joy in the world.
 
“Twenty-four brand new hours are before me”: YOU are the creator of your own life. YOU are the crafter of your own destiny. What will you make with this one beautiful life you have been given?
 
“I vow to live fully in each moment”: Yesterday is a memory and tomorrow is a dream. The only moment we can do anything about is this one now. Live in the present.
 
“I vow to look at all beings with eyes of compassion”: This is known as the bodhisattva vow—to bring compassion to every interaction, every thought, word and deed. This simple act will transform your life and the world around you.
 
May all beings be happy and free. May all beings know joy. May all beings live in peace.