July 17, 2023
NOWNESS IS NEXT TO GOODLINESS
“Even though you may be living in a city in the [21st] century, you can learn to experience the sacredness, the nowness of reality. That is the basis for creating an enlightened society.” (Trungpa 1984)
We have an ant infestation in one (or more?) of our planters. My sister-in-law pointed that out in the midst of a family dinner that consisted of sushi bought from the Japanese gourmet market, accompanied by salad and ice cream treats brought by the aforementioned family member. Dealing with an ant infestation did not fit into my vision for this impromptu dinner, so like any good sun-setter, I shot the messenger. (We’re still friends).
When, at al fresco lunch the next day, I had to guard my sandwich from being hauled away by the aforementioned ants, I realized I could no longer ignore the problem. Right then, in the moment, I donned mismatched and holey rubber gloves (which I’ve since replaced), grabbed a couple of compostable bags, wrenched the most obviously ant-covered plant from the soil and sealed it up for disposal. There’s more to do about the problem, but I got started on it. And I need to stay on it until the problem is solved, no matter how it interferences with my lofty vision for this week’s blog. As John Lennon famously said: “my life is what’s happening while I’m busy making other plans”. Becoming a Shambhala warrior is not about talking — or blogging — the talk, but about dealing with the ant problem. Now and now and now.
This small example illustrates the difference between Trungpa’s setting sun world and his vision for enlightened society. In a setting sun world the ants are somebody else’s problem (ideally the person’s who spotted them in the first place). As I’ve said before, in Trungpa’s rising sun vision, groups and individuals clean up their own back yards, with reverence for nature, and gratitude for the inventions and innovations that make life easier in our modern day. Like purpose-built gardening gloves and effective ant traps.
It was satisfying to visit the garden center, choosing more replacement plants than strictly necessary, and finding a powder to proactively treat the ant infestation.
The reward for my efforts was to be had in strolling through the Eden that is Maple Leaf Garden Center. Engaging all of my senses in a life-affirming way. Marveling at the incredible natural variety of shapes, and colors and sizes. Inhaling the sweet-vanilla scent of the Heliotrope, feeling the velvety silver-green leaves of the Lamb’s Ears, hearing the faint trickle of fountains dotted all around the property. And finally, feeling the sense of accomplishment for having addressed a problem while restoring a touch of beauty to my own back yard. It doesn’t take a complicated process to create a sense of contentment. A sense of basic goodness. Of being fully engaged in the present moment. Seeing and doing what needs to be seen and done from the moment I wake up to the time I crawl into bed at night keeps body and mind synchronized and well-occupied. And on the path to enlightenment.
As the old Zen proverb states: “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”