LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/30/07 - TOO BUSY BEING TOO BUSY

LOVE WORKS DAILY 01/30/07 - TOO BUSY BEING TOO BUSY

Hello Friends! I hope today finds you happy and well
and filled with the infinity that is love and the
capacity to give and receive it freely today!

Join our mailing list:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loveworksdaily/

Or read us on the web:
http://loveworks.ebloggy.com/
http://loveworksdaily.blogspot.com/

INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT:
(Great Thoughts By History's Inspired Thinking Men and Women)

How very happily we live,
free from busyness
among those who are busy.
Among busy people,
free from busyness we dwell.

-Dhammapada, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

TIM's BLOG
(Random Thoughts and Tim's Daily World):

Good morning all!  Another happy Tuesday in our little corner
of the world.  I'm hoping happiness for you in your corner
as well, whether it be big or small.

Moving to our new home in Southern Oregon has really helped
us to slow down and I can honestly say that in many ways
I have never been happier in my life.

Things are much more simple for certain.  I do wish that
I could work a little less, and have a bit more time
to play, but this world DOES expect a certain amount
of dollars.  And unfortunately my good looks and a friendly
smile does not satisfy the phone company.

Happy and Un-Busy Day to you!

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
(Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)

Busy! Busy! Busy!

I'm not very happy when I'm busy.

I've read a number of books about and have, at times, been involved in
a grass roots movement called "Voluntary Simplicity". It's philosophy
is that people are most happy when they operate at the most basic level.
This includes spiritual, emotional, financial or material,
and physical levels.

In other words, you stay healthiest, by placing the least amount of
stress on the various aspects of your existance.

First, is to ACTUALLY LET GO OF THE BAGGAGE that weighs you down. This
means GET RID of all the junk. That closet full of stuff does not make
any of us feel better. The stacks and piles, heaps and jumbles just
makes us feel bad.   And even if you have few things, and they are
neatly organized,
those THINGS are not making you HAPPY. They are just things. IF the
thought of throwing away or giving away some or all of your THINGS
causes you terrible pain, you are experiencing terrible PAIN over the
things that are supposed to be making you happy. This goes for finances
as well, if the thought of not having money causes you great pain, or
actually not having money, causes you great pain, then you are not
living in a financially simple manner. Your great treasures (or lack of
them)
are actually, then, great burdons.

So, Simplify your material world.

Second, is to have simpler, looser, emotional bonds and attachments,
to people, places, events, expectations, etc. Let go of the EMOTIONAL
BAGGAGE that burdons you. THIS ONE is very challenging to me. But, in
short, it means don't let things both real or imaginary get you upset
(at least very often). Relax and enjoy the moment.

So, Simplify your emotional world.

Then the idea is to have a simple spiritual practice and not let the
weight of your spiritual beliefs cause you to worry and feel guilty and
suffer. Let go of the SPIRITUAL BAGGAGE that burdons you. (If you break
most religions down to it, there usually is a pretty simple, reassuring
central theme....if you don't have an organized religion you follow,
most people can still recognized a fairly simple order to the universe
...surprisingly simple in it's complexity...and no matter where you go
or what you call it most recognize the theme is that of LOVE. ).

So, Simplify your spiritual world.

And finally SLOOOOWWWW DOWN!!!!

And this, theoretically, should be the simple unavoidable final step.

If you have stopped chasing money (that you have to organize, balance,
calculate, worry about, etc.) and have stopped
your endless pursuit of material objects (that you have to organize,
repair, clean, worry about etc.), you will now have alot more free
time.

With that free time, you can use it to release the emotional bonds that
you have that cause you grief (that you have to organize, balance,
adjust, calculate, worry about, etc.).

And that frees up even more time to live in a natural and spirit
oriented condition.

In the end you will be DOING LESS, because there is LESS TO DO.
You will just be EXPERIENCING MORE...because you have so much more time
to EXPERIENCE.

I was thinking about these things just yesterday (while I was too busy
to write a LOVE WORKS, by the way, GREAT SIGH!!!)

I like to have things simple. I don't always do it well. But I am
happiest when I live life as it comes, and enjoy the moment.

I don't like to have things be difficult. If they are, I'd just rather
not do them. (I don't mind things being challenging, and I don't mind
putting in an effort...but I don't like things to be difficult....but
that's another story)

Unfortunately, I don't live in a society that values my simplicity
the way I do. And the demands of our "American Way of Life" can kinda
get me down.

If we are raised to WORK HARD, BEHAVE OURSELVES, GET A GOOD JOB,
ACHIEVE FINANCIAL SECURITY and CHASE YOUR DREAMS, where is the FINISH
LINE?

When we stop breathing?

Most of the people I know if I ask them...."Do you have a couple hours
that we could just sit and listen to music...or talk....or just sit and
meditate quietly together..or read?" will respond: "I can't
TODAY....I'm too busy....Maybe next Thursday I can work in a half hour.
Give me a call."

As I continue to think about it, I'm not happy that way.

Why are we living....if we are TOO BUSY....to enjoy life?

Why do we value our relationships with other people and animals and
nature...
and for that matter, our higher power....if we don't have the time
for them?

Are we just TOO BUSY being TOO BUSY?

Love In Thought! Love In Word! Love In Action!

Love To You Today!

 

"May we endeavor today to increase our understanding and appreciation of
what others have given and contributed to us. And develop constant,
mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will BENIFICIALLY
CONTRIBUTE to others"

The best to you today in discovering the answers to life's difficult
questions!

 

A Final Thought:

Love is always the right thing to do. Even if it isn't the easiest
thing to do.

May we have compassion for the struggles of others, wisdom to
acknowledge our own, and courage to address them both every day.

Respectfully,
Tim

This is a daily newsletter of LOVE WORKS DAILY:
A collective of individuals of different beliefs and
backgrounds, dedicated to a better world by living LOVE in thought,
word and action. Compassion. Wisdom. Courage.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.

from LOVE WORKS DAILY 03/11/03
(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry