Busy Work

[cherydactyl]

Some people think that they will practice the dharma once they have finished with their worldly business. This is a mistaken attitude because our work in the world never finishes. Work is like a ripple of water continually moving on the surface of the ocean. It is very difficult to break free from our occupations in order to practice dharma. The busy work with which we fill our lives is only completed at the time of our death.

- Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, 'Meaningful to Behold' from Everyday Mind, edited by Jean Smith

Comments

[evalerie.livejournal.com]

Good one! I know *so* many people who get so caught up in how busy they are day-to-day that they forget to notice that being busy is a choice, and the things one fills one's day with is a choice.

(Random factoid: One of the other people on my LiveJournal friends list is named Jean Smith, though she is not the same person as the one who edited the book you are quoting from. But it always startles me to see her postings back to back with your postings that mention a Jean Smith.) :)