There’s a idea in Japanese tea ceremony from Zen, roughly translated as “one probability in a lifetime,” or “one lifetime, one assembly.” It’s such a gorgeous thought: any assembly you might have with somebody is exclusive, fleeting, and can by no means occur once more, even in case you see this particular person daily.
What would life be like if we might study this type of deep appreciation for any second?
I discover myself typically in a rush for one thing I wish to occur instantly. I need it to be absolutely completed, yesterday. I’m overlooking the unimaginable second that’s occurring proper now.
I discover myself pissed off with different folks, even when I don’t wish to admit that frustration. I need the opposite particular person to be totally different than they’re, need them to vary. I’m lacking out on the great thing about being with this particular person simply as they’re.
I discover myself eager to rush round doing issues, and eager to fill each second with distractions, productive actions, busyness. I’m lacking a possibility for stillness, for stopping and simply being in the great thing about the current second.
I typically appear to assume (with out realizing it) that there’s some particular second in life that’s coming, that can be extra particular than life is true now. What I neglect is that life doesn’t get extra particular than what’s occurring proper now.
This right here, this second occurring proper now … that is the second of a lifetime.
How heartachingly beautiful it’s.